/I59M5 


niU 


.?ts-s' 


June  26,  1894. 


THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 

OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 

Ex  Libris 


Katharine  F«  Richmond 

and 

Henry  C.  Fall 


r^^.-'^f-*-'*--*--^— 


Digitized  by  tine  Internet  Arciiive 

in  2007  witii  funding  from 

IVIicrosoft  Corporation 


littp://www.arcliive.org/details/celebrationofoneOOinilfiala 


TOWN    COMMITTKK. 
William  f.  FREMtn.  K1.1  s    Bi  rns.  Kmri  c.  Hutchinson. 

John  W.  Crosby.  Chairman. 

CLARKNCK   J.   (-.l-TTKRHON.  C.f.OHt.K    A      WORCKSTKR.  JOHN    K.    FOSTER. 


CELEBRATION 


OF  THE 


ODe  HuDdredth  AnniversaFy 


OF  THE 


INCORPORATION  OF  fllLFORD, 

NEW  HAMPSHIRE, 
JUNE:  26,  1894: 

INCLUDING  THE  PROCEEDINGS  OF  THE  COMMITTEE, 

ADDRESSES,  POEM, 

AND  OTHER  EXERCISES  OF  THE  OCCASION. 


They  who  never  look  back  to  their  ancestors  will  never  look  forward  to  posterity. 
.  Burke. 


MILFORD, 
CABINET  PRINT. 

1894. 


F 


1066181 


FIRST  MEETING  HOUSE  AND  FORMER  TOWN  HOUSE. 


MILFORD  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION.  5 

''STATE  OF  NEW  HAMPSHIRE,  1794. 
"/n  the  year  of  our  Lord,  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  ninety-four. 
''An  Act  to  incorporate  the  Southwesterly  part  of  Amherst,  the  North- 
westerly part  of   Hollis,  the  Mile  Slip  and  Duxbury  School  farm  into   a 
town,  and  to  invest  the  inhabitants  thereof  with  all  such  privileges  and-immu- 
nities  as  other  towns  in  this  State  hold  and  enjoy. 

"Whereas,  a  petition  signed  by  a  number  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  southwesterly  part  of 
Amherst,  the  northwesterly  part  of  Hollis,  the  Mile  Slip  and  Duxbury  School  farm  (so  called) 
has  been  preferred,  setting  forth  that  by  an  act  of  incorporation  passed  by  the  Legislature  of  this 
State,  on  the  first  day  of  June,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  tliousand  seven  hundred  and  ninety- 
two,  the  southwest  part  of  Amherst  aforesaid  was,  by  certain  boundaries  therein  described,  made 
a  parish ;  that  the  tract  of  land  therein  contained  is  too  small  for  a  town ;  that  the  inhabitants  of 
the  Mile  Slip  and  Duxbury  School  farm  aforesaid  are  unable  to  support  the  Gospel,  build  bridges 
and  maintain  schools ;  that  a  number  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  northwesterly  part  of  said  Hol- 
lis could  be  better  accommodated  by  being  annexed  to  the  southwest  parish  in  Amherst.  They, 
therefore,  prayed  that  they  might  be  incorporated  and  made  a  body  Politic,  with  all  the  Corporate 
powers  and  privileges  by  law  vested  in  other  towns.  And  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Amherst, 
in  legal  Town-meeting,  having  voted  their  assent  to  the  same  ; 

"  Thertfore,  Be  it  Enacted  by  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives,  in  General  Court 
Convened,  that  all  the  lands  and  mhabitants  within  the  following  limits  :  viz..  Beginning  at  the 
southwest  comer  of  the  northwest  parish  in  Amherst  aforesaid,  on  Lyndeborough  east  line, 
thence  running  easterly  to  the  northeast  comer  of  Amos  Green's  lot,  called  the  Mill  lot ;  thence 
southerly  on  a  straight  line  to  the  southwest  comer  of  lot  No.  20 ;  thence  easterly  on  the  range 
line  to  the  northeasterly  comer  of  William  Peabody's  land ;  thence  southerly  on  the  range  line 
between  John  Shepard,  Esq.,  and  William  Peabody's  land  until  it  comes  to  land  belonging  to 
the  heirs  of  John  Shepard,  late  of  said  Amherst,  deceased  ;  thence  easterly  to  the  northeast  cor- 
ner of  the  same,  joining  to  land  of  the  same  John  Shepard,  Esq.;  thence  southerly,  by  land  of 
John  Shepard,  Esq.,  aforesaid,  on  the  range  line  to  Souhegan  River ;  thence  down  the  middle  of 
said  River  till  it  strike  land  owned  by  Benjamin  and  Stephen  Kindrick ;  thence  southerly  by 
said  Kindrick  land  to  the  road  leading  from  David  Danforth's  to  the  town  of  Wilton ;  thence 
crossing  the  same  and  running  a  south  point  to  Hollis  Line,  being  near  David  Duncklee  house, 
and  then  to  the  northeast  comer  of  the  land  lately  laid  off  from  said  Hollis  by  their  committee 
appointed  for  the  above  purpose  ;  thence  running  south  about  twelve  degrees  east  so  as  to  strike 
the  northeast  comer  of  John  Steams'  land,  it  being  the  northwest  comer  of  Robert  Colboim's 
land ;  thence  on  the  same  course  till  it  comes  to  the  southeast  comer  of  the  said  Steams'  land ; 
thence  westerly,  by  said  Steams'  and  Wm.  Haley  land,  until  it  comes  to  the  northwest  comer  of 
said  Haley  land,  thence  westerly  to  the  northeast  comer  of  Mr.  Gould's  land,  and  so  on  westerly, 
by  said  Gould  and  David  Danforth's  land,  to  said  Gould's  northwest  comer;  thence  turning 
southerly  to  southeast  comer  of  Robert  Darrah's  land  ;  thence  west  fifteen  degrees  south  until  it 
comes  to  Raby  east  line  ;  thence  northerly  on  said  Raby  east  line  until  it  comes  to  the  south  line 
of  said  Amherst ;  thence  northerly  on  the  north  line  of  said  Raby  to  the  southwest  comer  of  Am- 
herst ;  thence  southerly  by  the  west  line  of  Raby  to  the  southeast  comer  of  the  Mile  Slip  ; 
thence  westerly  to  the  southwest  comer  thereof  ;  thence  northerly  on  east  line  of  Mason  and  Wil- 
ton to  the  northwest  comer  of  the  Mile  Slip ;  thence  easterly  on  the  south  line  of  Lyndeborough 
to  the  southeast  comer  thereof  ;  thence  northerly  by  the  east  line  of  Lyndeborough  to  the  bound 
first  mentioned,  Be,  and  the  same  are  hereby  incorporated  into  a  to'vn  by  the  name  of  Milford ; 
and  the  inhabitants  who  reside  and  shall  hereafter  reside  within  the  before-mentioned  boundaries 
are  made  and  constituted  a  body  politic  and  corporate,  and  invested  with  all  the  powers,  privi- 
leges and  immunities  which  towns  in  this  State  by  law  are  entitled  to  enjoy ;  to  remain  a  distinct 
town,  and  have  continuance  and  succession  forever.  And  be  it  further  Enacted  that  Augustus 
Blanchardi  Esquire,  be,  and  he  hereby  is,  authorized  and  empowered  to  call  a  meeting  of  said  in- 
habitants for  the  purpose  of  choosing  all  necessary  Town  Officers ;  and  shall  preside  therein  un 
til  a  Moderator  sliall  be  chosen  to  govern  said  meeting,  which  shall  be  warned  by  posting  up 
notice  thereof  at  the  Meeting-House  in  said  Milford,  fourteen  days  prior  to  the  day  of  holding 
the  same,  and  the  annual  meetings  for  the  choice  of  Town  Officers  shall  be  holden  on  the  first 
Tuesday  of  March  annually. 

"Provided  always  that  nothing  in  this  act  contained  shall,  in  any  wise,  release  the  inhabi- 
tants of  the  said  Southwest  Parish  in  Amherst  (part  of  Said  Milford)  from  paying  their  propor- 
tion of  all  debts  now  due  from  the  town  of  Amherst,  or  their  proportion  of  the  support  of  the  Pres- 
ent Poor  of  said  Town  and  Parish,  or  any  taxes  now  assessed  on  them  as  inhabitants  of  the  said 
Town  of  Amherst ;  but  the  same  may  be  levied  and  collected  from  the  inhabitants  of  the  said 
Southwest  Parish  (now  part  of  Milford  aforesaid)  in  the  same  way  and  manner  as  if  this  act  had 
not  been  passed;  and  the  present  inhabitants  of  the  said  northwesterly  part  of  said  town  of  Hollis 
shall  be  liable  to  pay  all  taxes  heretofore  assessed  on  them  as  inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Hollis, 
in  the  same  way  and  manner  as  if  this  act  had  not  been  passed. 

"In  Senate,  January  11,  1794.  This  bill  having  had  three  several  readings,  passed  to  be  en- 
acted ;    sent  down  for  concurrence. 

"Abiel  Foster,  President  of  the  Senate. 

"In  the  House  of  Representatives,  the  same  day,  the  foregoing  bill,  having  had  a  third  read- 
ing, was  enacted. 

"Nathaniel  Peabodv,  Speaker. 

"Approved  nth  January,  1794. 

"JosiAH  Bartlbtt. 

'"A  true  copy. 

"Attest,  Nathaniel  Parker,  Dep.  Sec. 

"Recorded  by 

"Augustus  Blanchard,  Town  Cleric." 


NOTE. 

In  the  compiling  of  this  centennial  record  we  have  met  with  more  de- 
lays than  we  anticipated.  Much  that  occurred  on  the  daj  of  the  cele- 
bration it  is  impossible  to  reproduce  upon  a  printed  page.  The  most 
that  we  can  do  is  to  make  it  as  perfect  as  the  circumstances  will  per- 
mit. In  this  effort  we  have!  been  aided  very  largely  by  those  who  took 
part  in  the  exercises  of  the  day. 

The  addresses,  as  furnished  in  MS.,  together  with  the  letters,  are  in 
the  main,  in  the  exact  form  of  address  or  language  of  the  speaker  or 
writer. 

I  assume  full  responsibility  for  the  preparation  and  compilation  of 
this  book.     Whatever  errors  or  inaccuracies  may  appear  belong  to  me. 

The  long  time  which  it  has  taken  to  secure  the  illustrations  is  the 
cause  of  the  delay  of  the  volume. 

Respectfully, 

W.  B.  ROTCH. 

MiLFORD,   N.    H. 


GOMimfTlE 


ONE    OH    THK    BAl>OHS. 


riilford  Centennial   Celebration. 


The  Selectmen  of  Milford  through  their  Representatives  to  the  (jlener- 
al  Court  of  the  State  of  New  Hampshire,  asked  permission  for  the  town 
to  appropriate  money  for  the  proper  celebi'ation  of  the  one  hundi'edtli 
anniversary  of  its  incorporation,  and  the  following  act  was  passed  : — 

A  n  act  authoriziuf/  the  town  of  Milford  to  appropriate  money  to  celebrate  the 
rentennial  of  said  town  : — 

Be  it  enacted  by  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  in  General  Court  con- 
vened , 

Sec.  I.  That  the  town  of  Milford  in  the  Count>- of  Hillsborough  is  hereby  author- 
ized and  empowered  to  raise,  appropriate  and  expend  a  sum  not  ex  reeding  five 
hundred  dollars  for  the  purpose  of  celebrating  the  centennial  of  said  town. 

Sec.   2.    This  act  shall  take  effect  upon  its  passage. 

(Approved  Feb.  i6,  1893.) 

An  article  was  inseiiied  in  the  warrant  for  the  annual  town  meeting, 
held  on  Tuesday,  March  14,  1893,  as  follows  :  "To  see  if  the  town  will 
vote  to  celebrate  the  one  hundredth  anniversary  of  its  incorporation,  and 
raise  and  appropriate  money  for  the  same." 

'i'he  town  voted  to  have  a  celebration,  and  chose  as  a  committee  to 
have  charge  of  the  arrangements,  Messrs.  .J.  W.  Crosby,  J.  E.  Foster, 
Eli  S.  Burns,  E.  C.  Hutchinson,  H.  L.  Bartlett,  Greo.  A.  Worcester  and 
Clarence  J.  Gutterson,  and  raised  and  appropriated  the  sum  of  five  hun- 
dred dollars  to  defray  the  expense  of  the  same. 

(  At  a  subsequent  meeting  the  appropriation  was  increased  to  one 
thousand  dollars,  and  W.  F".  French  chosen  a  member  of  the  committee, 
in  place  of  H.  L.  Baitlett,  who  declined  to  serve.) 

The  committee  met  in  the  selectmen's  room  in  the  town  house,  on 
Saturday,  March  25,  1893,  and  chose  Col.  John  W.  Crosby  chairman, 
(xeo.  A.  Worcester,  secretary,  and  W.  F.  French  treasurer.  It  was  voted 
that  the  celebration  be  held  during  the  week  commencing  June  17, 1894, 
(  This  date  was  later  changed  to  the  26th.)  Also  voted  that  the  Hon.  C. 
H.  Burns  of  Wilton  be  invited  to  deliver  the  oration. 


10  MILFORD  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 


n)VY  OF  LETTER  TO  HON.  C.  IL  BIRNS. 

Mii.Koitn,  \.  IL.  Maim  II  l>7,  1H93. 
Hon.  C.  H.  BrK.NS,  N;i.s1uih.  \.  IL 

Dear  Sir:  The  Town  (if  Milfonl,  at  its  last  annual  ineetinjj,  vntrd 
to  celehrat<'  thf  one  liundn'dtii  anniversary  of  its  incor)Miration,  and 
chose  a  coinniitt^-e  of  s«jven  to  make  all  needed  arrangements.  That 
comniitU'e  liave  or>j;anized  with  Col.  .F.  W.  Cnwliy  as  chairman,  and 
luy.self  a.s  s«'ci-etarv. 

The  exiu-t  date  of  the  event,  ei)iniii<;  in  the  winter  (.lannary  11  ), 
it  was  decide<l  to  have  the  wleltration  during  the  week  eoinmencing  .Fnno 
17,1894. 

The  t^mmittee  were  inianiinons  in  their  vote  to  invite  you  t«  deliver 
an  oration  niton  that  occasion.  If  the  dat<'  selecteil  do«^'<  not  conform  to 
your  other  en;;ageinent8  we  will  change  it  to  any  other  you  may  select. 

Trusting  thai  you  will  give  this  niatt^M-  yonr  early  consideration,  I 
remain, 

Very  truly  youix. 

(iKo.   A.  WourKSTKK,  Secretary. 


COPY  OF  REPLY  OF  HON.  C.  IL  BIH.NS. 

Nakih  A,  N.  IL.  Mak.  27,  1H»3. 

7'«  fieo.  A  .  WorceMer,  Esq.,  Seirrttari/,  and  the  n/mmittef  /m  the  relehratinn 
the  one  hutulredth  antnrcr.iart/  of  ihf  inrorporatuni  af  Ihe  Town  of 
Milford: 

(iKNTsj.iI  have  received '.your  invitation  of  the  27th  inst..  saying 
that  you  have  unanimously  voted  to  invite  me  to  deliver  the  oration  ujx)n 
the  celebration  of  the  one  hundredth  anniversary  of  the  town,  anrl  say- 
ing that  you  have  fixed  ni>on  .Inne  17th.  1894.  for  the  celebration. 

In  reply,  will  say  that  I  accept  with  great  plesisure  the  invitation, 
and  feel  very  much  lionored  by  it,  and  shall  endeavor,  Providence  jier- 
mitting,  to  deliver  the  atldress.  and  shall  hoi^e  it  will  Ix-  worthy  of  the 
great  occasion.  The  time  fixed  will  be  agreeable  to  me.  and  am  sjuMMally 
pleased  with  the  invitation  at  so  early  a  <late,  as  it  will  give  me  ample 
opiKjrtunity  to  prepare  for  it.     I  am  with  great  respect. 

Very  truly  yours. 

CuAiJ.    H.    Bl'UM8. 


MILFORU  CKNTENNTAL  CELEBRATION. 


11 


The  following  is  a  copy  of  the  invitation  sent  to  Milford'a  absent 
sons  and  daughters : 


12  MILFORD  CENTENNIAL  CEIJ2BRATTON. 


INVITATION  TO  AMHERST. 


It  was  voted  to  invite  the  towu  of  Amherst  to  participate  in  the  ex- 
ercises, and  the  following  invitation  was  sent : 

MiLFORD,  N.  H.,  JuxE  27,  '94. 

The  Toirii  of  Mil/ord  to  her  mother  town  of  AmherM  sendeth  greeting : 

WnKRKAS,  the  t<iwn  of  Milford  proj)oses  to  celebrate  in  a  fitting 
manner  the  one  hundredth  anniversary'  of  its  incorporation,  on  June  2(J, 
1894,  therefoi-e,  we  do  most  coi-dially  invite  you  to  be  officially  represent- 
ed upon  that  occasion  by  such  delegation  as  you  may  be  pleased  to  send. 
The  Centennial  Committee. 

John  W.  Cmosby, 

Chairman. 
Geo.  a.  Worcestek, 

Secretary. 


Amherst   responded   to  this  invitation   by  electing  the  following 
namt^  gentlemen  to  represent  her  at  these  exercises: 

El>WARD    I).    BoYLSTON,  El»WlN    K.  B>UKTT, 

Jamks  F.  Weston,  \Vm.  B.  Rotch, 

(iKo.  E.  Farley,  (Jko.  W.  Bohworth, 

Horace  Harvell,  Frank  Hartshorn, 

Alfred  J.  McKiowN,  (iRANViLLE  Parker, 

Daniel  A.  Fletcher,  James  U.  Prince, 

Isaac  B.  Douoe,  Elgene  C.  Hubbard. 


MILFORD  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION.  U 


Committees. 


At  nieetiiigH  of  the  town  committee  held  at  subsequent  date*,  the 
following  special  committees  were  appointed  : 

PRK8II>KNT    OF    THE    DAY, 

Judge  Robert  M.  Wallace. 

CHIEF    MARSHAL, 

Col.  F.  E.  Kaley. 

RECEPTION. 

John  McLaiie,  F.  T.  Sawyer,  F.  E.  Kaley,  J.  E.  Foster,  C.  E.  Knight, 

J.  W.  Crosby,  J.  M.  Burns,  Wni.  M.  Kuowlton,  W.  W.  Howard, 

H.  C.  Buxton,  C.  H.  V.  Smith,  M.  F.  Crosby. 

INVITATIONS,  PRINTING    AND    BADGES. 

G.  A.  Worcester.  E.  C.  Hutchinson. 

BANQUET, 

G.  V.  Tarlton,  J.  N.  Stevens,  W.  W.  Dodge,  W.  F.  French,  A.   M.  Wil- 
son, Mis.  J.  E.  Webster,  Mrs.  J.  A.  Hill,  Mrs.  K.  H.  fiercs, 
Mrs.  O.  H.  Foster. 

•  GROUNDS    AND   TKNT, 

E.  C.  Hutchinson,  G.  A.  Worcester. 

PRESS, 

W.  B.  Rotch.  E.  E.  Hill,  E.  M.  Stanyan,  W.  W.  Hemeoway. 

PROGRAMME    AND    MUSIC. 

F.  W.  Richardson,  F.  W.  Farnsworth,  C.  S.  Emerson,  Mi-s.  J.  McLane, 
Mrs.  B.  F.  Foster. 

DECORATIONS, 

H.  H.  Barber,  ^^■.  A.  Guild,  F.  W.  Sawyer,  B.  F.  Foster,  (i.  A.  Worcester. 

PROCESSION, 

C.  E.  Kendall,  B.  R.  Came,  E.  8.  Heald,  J.  T.  Young,  A.  W.  Howi^oa, 
H.  A.  Wilkins,  W.  R.  Howard,  G.  W.  Tarbell,  E.  C.  Hutchin- 
son, J.  C.  Merrill,' F.  B.  Bartlett. 

FIRE    WORKS, 

E.  C.  Hutchinson,  J.  McLane,  (t.  A.  Worcester. 

BICYCLE    PARADE    AND    RACE, 

L.  H.  HaU.  B.  Mills,  W.  J.  Elliott. 

HISTORICAL    LOAN    AND   ART    COLLfiCTIOK. 

Mrs.  J.  McLane,  Mrs.  J.  A.  Hill,  Mrs.  H.  H.  Barber,  Mrs.  J.  E.  Webster, 
Mrs.  W.  K.  Emerson. 


Sunday  Evening  Services. 


Acconling  to  the  itivitatinn  of  the  oeutt^nnial  committee,  the  varioiw 
ministers  of  the  town  ]»repareil  a  j>rojjram.  and  invited  their  people  and 
all  interesteil.  to  unite  in  tiie  town  hall,  on  Sunihiy  evening,  the  24tli. 
for  a  niiion  s«'rvice,  thus  initiating  in  a  very  Ix-titting  manner,  the  cen- 
tennial celehration  of  the  week.  The  llev.  A.  .1.  Ilich  acted  as  chair- 
man, read  the  Scrij>tnral  selections,  fnrnished  the  original  hymn  with 
wliicii  the  service  closed,  and  prononnt^d  the  henediction,  which  Rev. 
.)o.se]>ii  Manuel  was  prevented  from  doing  hy  absence  from  town.  Rev; 
F.  L.  Kna|>p  led  the  p«'ople  in  a  helpful  jirayer,  and  a  crhorus  choi 
under  the  leadership  of  ('.  W.  Kdwards.  i-endereil  excellent  music.  Rev. 
n.  1*.  I'e<;k.  having  l)een  chosen  hy  his  brethren  as  pastor  of  the  oldest 
church  on  the  soil,  delivered  an  a<ldre.ss  on  the  ''Past  and  Future  Work 
•  •f  the  Churches  in  Milford." 

He  began  l>y  exjiressing  his  satisf;u*tion  with  the  i<lea  of  lx»ginning 
the  celebration  of  the  first  hundred  years  of  our  history  by  a  grateful 
recognition  of  the  Invisible  Hand,  which  has  led  us  the  way.  and  then 
proceeded  to  outline  what  he  conceiveil  to  have  l>een  the  special  way  in 
which  each  church  has  wrought,  under  this  Divine  Hand,  for  the  devel- 
opment of  the  community.  He  held  that  the  work  of  the  First  Congre- 
gational Church,  whose  first  building,  now  Eagle  hall,  was  erected  on 
I'nion  S(|nare.  at  a  cost  of  so  much  time  and  sacrifice  by  the  original  set- 
tlers, true  to  its  history  hiwl  l»een.  not  only  to  establish  a  free  form  of 
government,  but  alsij  t»)  ingiain  into  the  early  life  of  the  town,  the  great 
Hebrew  and  Roman  principle  of  justice  and  law.  Its  (iod  had  been 
stem  and  holy,  in  his  chief  aspect,  heiu'.e  his  worshippers,  with  true  Puri- 
tan heroism.  sfHight  to  engraft  these  qualities,  sometimes  by  force,  upon 
ehurch  and  stat*-.  Their  great  work  w<is  to  lay  foinidations  of  law  and 
order  without  which  no  country  can  enjoy  permanent  pros]»«>rity. 

The  Baptist  Church.  esta>>lislied  in  !«(»!>.  has  a  hi.story  older  than 
Congregationalism,  and  luis  ever  st^sxl  for  the  complete  Iil>erty  of  the 
individual  under  (iihJ,  using  the  Hible  a::>  its  only  authority,  and  making 


CONGREGATIONAL  CHURCH  AND  CHAPEL. 


MILFORD  CEXTP:NNIAL  CELKBKATION.  15 


littlo  of  mere  (Teeds,  being  thus  dtMiiocratic,  not  only  in  j^ovcrnnient.  Imi 
in  doctrine.  'I'hi.s  j)rincii>le  must  thus  have  l)een  \vrou}ifht  into  the  citi- 
zen life  of  Milford  the  most  of  the  century,  stimulating  the  sens<'  of  in- 
dividnal  liberty. 

The  Methodist  Church  came  into  history,  as  every  one  knows,  as  a  new 
and  living  breath  of  the  spirit  of  (iod,  re-animating  the  cold  an<l  lifeless 
chnrcVi  of  England,  and  bringing  a  new  impulse  to  the  churches  of 
America.  This  must  have  stimulate<l  the  religious  feeling  of  .Milford. 
and  quickened  it  to  new  life. 

The  ("athoIi(^  Church  is  the  mother  of  us  all.  how(iver  much  many 
of  her  (diildren  may  have  come  to  tlifl'er  from  her.  She  holds  still,  with 
all  her  imi>erial  government  and  extended  ritual,  to  a  grand  ideal  of 
unity,  and  her  influen(;e  has  been,  in  the  main,  in  the  view  of  the 
speaker,  in  favor  of  law  and  order  in  this  country.  'I'he  present  A.  V. 
A.  movement,  whose  purj)o.ses  to  keep  all  lionian  Catholics  out  of  every 
office  within  the  gift  of  the  i>eople  of  this  country,  was  emphatically 
condemned  by  the  s[teaker.  jis  both  unjust  and  unwise.  l>ecause  our  con- 
stitution grants  ecpial  rights  t<>  every  citizen,  without  regard  t(j  the  form 
of  his  religion,  and  unwise  because  it  is  the  very  way  to  bring  on  tlu! 
religious  war  which  the  members  of  that  organization  (daim  to  fear. 

The  Unitarian,  or  Liberal  Church,  grew  for  the  most  pait.  <Mit  of 
the  narrowness  of  the  Orthodox  Church.  It  claimed  wider  views,  l^oth 
of  the  love  of  God,  and  the  rights  and  jiossibilities  of  human  nature. 
It  lias  also  given  us  a  clearer  insight  into  the  human  life  of  .Jesus.  By 
way  of  criticism  and  outlook  into  the  future,  the  [neacher  held  that  the 
old  idea  of  justice  and  law  need  to  be  supplemented  by  tluit  of  unmer- 
ited kindness  and  generosity,  that  the  old  individualism  needed  to  be 
broadened  into  materialism,  that  tin-  spiritual  Divine  illumination  by  the 
Holy  Spirit  needed  also  the  enduring  (jualities  of  education  and  culture, 
that  the  Catholic  ideas  of  unity  and  authority  needed  gieater  adjust- 
ment to  our  American  ways  and  institutions,  that  the  Liberal  movement 
needed  a  deeper  sense  of  the  Divine  within  its  rich  thought  of  human- 
ity, and  that  all  needed  a  more  tolerant  appreciation  of  the  fact  that 
none  held  the  whole  of  God's  liuth.  while  each  had  been  elected  to 
receive  a  jiortion  of  God's  light  and  life,  (iod's  aim  was  not  .sim]>ly  to 
bless  them,  but  always  for  the  ultimate  salvation  of  the  whole  communi- 
ty! Let  us  cross  then,  gratefully  and  hopefully,  the  threshold  of  the 
new  century,  working  and  waiting  together,  until  that  one.  true  kingdom 
of  (iod.  which  tilled  the  vision  of  the  ancient  prophets  be  indeed  come. 

"  When  the  war-drum  throbs  no  longer,  ; , 

And  the  battle  flags  are  furled  ; 
In  the  parliament  of  man, 
The  federation  of  the  world."  - 


1«  MILFORD  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 


Centennial  Poem. 


God  of  our  fathers,  we 
In  soul  and  countiy  free, 

Would  praise  thy  name; 
Prom  Thee  our  heritage. 
Our  century's  bright  page. 
Our  trust  in  each  new  age. 

Unchanged  the  same. 

Fjike  to  Jerusalem, 
Mountains  our  bordei-s  hem, — 

Symbol  of  strength ; 
Our  valleys  laugh  with  corn, 
Beauty  the  hills  adorn. 
Health  crowns  each  smiling  morn, 

And  joy  at  length. 

We  thank  Thee,  for  the  past, 
Since  hei-e  our  lot  was  cast 

In  this  fair  town  ; 
For  men  of  noble  wortli. 
The  church,  the  school,  the  hearth* 
Religion's  higher  birtl). 

Our  l)eing's  cr«)wn. 

The  coming  century  bless. 
Our  banner  Holiness, 

Our  hope  in  Thee  : 
Guard  ns  from  every  ill. 
Thy  tnith  in  us  fulfil, — 
To  know  and  do  Thy  will, 

Our  service  be ! 

Hasten  Thy  kingdom's  reign. 
The  gospel's  sweet  refrain. 

The  wide  earth  o  er ; 
When  all  at  one  shall  l>e 
In  righteousness  and  Tliee, 
All  sons  of  God  most  free, 

Hence  evermore ! 

A.  JuDsoN  Rich. 


INITAKIAN  CHIRCH. 


The  Day's  Observance. 


Tuesday,  the?26th  of  June,  the  day  appointed  for  the  observance  of 
the  lOOthJanniversary  of  the  settlement ^of  the  town,  dawned  fair  and' 
bright.     It  was  a  proud  day  for  Milford.     And  as  has  been  said  : 

"  Those  having  in  cliarge  the  observances,  knew  well  when  the giass 
was  greenest,  and  the  beautiful  trees^that  adorn  our  streets  were  wont  to 
put  on  their  richest  dress ;  when  the  birds  sing  their  sweetest  welcome, 
and  the  golden  robin  comes  back  from'the  sunny  south  to  its  cherished 
home  in  their  branches,  and  they  chose  that  month  tojcall  back  and  wel- 
come, and  to  rejoice  with  the  scattered  sons  and  daughters  of  our  good 
old  town. 

The  response  was  hearty  a.s  the  invitation  was  cordial,  and  the  occa- 
sion was  one  of  thejcommingling  of  kindred  spirits,  as  when  a  long  sev- 
ered family  once  again  gather  about  the  •'  old  hearth  stone  "  and  talk 
over  and  rejoice  in  the  recollections  of, early  scenes  and  associations  the 
familiar  places  and  faces  inspire." 

The  public  and  private  decorations  on  the  occasion,  which  were  pro- 
fuse, were  tastefully,  and  many  of  them  elegantly  arranged  by  Col. 
Beals  of  Boston,  whose  ability  and  skill  in  this  direction  are  unsur- 
passed. The  public  buildings  were  arrayed  in  gay  attire,  with  chaste 
and  elegant  adornment  of  a  varied  character. 

It  would  be  an  almost  endless  undertaking  to  describe  all  of  the  dec- 
orations; it  would  be  easier  to  give  the  list  of;|houses  not  decorated.  It 
is  safe  to  say  that  99  per  cent,  of  the  houses,  except  on  the  extreme  out- 
skirts, made  some  kind  of  a  display.  About  all  of  the  houses  on  the 
line  of  march  were  hidden  behind  flags,  bunting,  streamers,  shields  and 
other  decorations,  signifying  the  spirit  of  the  dwellerj^therein.  and  im- 
pressing visitors  and  strangers  with^the  sincere  welcome  extended  by  an 
hospitable  people. 

The  day  was  ushered  in  by  the  ringing  of  bells  and  tlie  firing  of  an 
early  morning  salute  by  "  Mollie  Stark." 

"Molly  Stark"  is  one  of  four  cannons 'captured  by  the  intrepid 
Stark  at  the  battle  of  Bennington,  Aug.  16, 1777,  and  is  of  French  make, 
and  after  its  capture  did  valient  service  for  the  Americans.     Two  of  its 


18  MILFORD  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 


mates  are  preserved  in  the  Capitol  of  Vermont,  and  this  one  is  the  prop- 
erty of  New  Boston  by  right  of  conquest. 

The  first  spectacle  to  be  witnessed  was  the  bicycle  parade  at  H 
o'clock,  which  was  participated  in  by  nearly  sixty  riders,  the  proce.ssion 
being  headed  by  Mills,  Mall  and  Elliott.  The  wheels,  many  of  them, 
were  gaily  decorated  with  flags  and  colored  ribbons.  The  rout«  was 
over  the  one  pursued  by  the  regular  procession  later  in  the  day.  The 
citizens  along  the  line  were  greatly  pleased  with  the  finest  parade  of  this 
nature  that  the  town  ever  witnessed. 

At  f)  a.  ni.  was  the  dedication  of  the  Col.  O.  W.  Lull  Memorial  Foun- 
tain, of  which  a  complete  account  is  given  elsewhere. 

While  these  exercises  were  taking  place,  a  great  concourse  of  peo- 
ple from  the  neighboring  towns  were  filling  the  streets.  The  bands 
v;ere  givii.g  open  air  concerts,  and  the  trade  procession  was  forming  on 
the  several  streets,  with  the  head  resting  on  Railroad  Square,  awaiting 
the  arrival  of  the  special  train  which  was  to  bring  the  (iovernor  and  his 
staff,  and  many  other  invited  guests. 


Decoration  a. 


The  town  hall  took  ptrecedence  in  the  line  of  centennial  decorations. 
The  front  was  profusely  covered  with  bunting,  includings  flags  and 
streamers,  .\cross  the  center  was  a  semi-circular  design  with  the  in- 
scription. "  10(>  Anniversary  of  Milford."  Over  the  front  entrance  was 
a  large  bronzed  eagle,  undenieatli  of  which,  and  surnnindiug  both  sides 
of  the  doorway,  was  a  heavy  draping  of  flags  and  shields.  On  the 
south  side  large  flags  were  displayed  in  unique  design,  and  in  the  centre 
of  the  building  wjus  a  large  canvas  [lainting,  representing  a  camp  scene 
in  soldier  life,  or  us  the  artist  might  descrilte  it,  union  and  confederate* 
soldiers  after  tiie  surrender.  Also  a  large  inscription.  '■  1794,  1(K)  Anni- 
versary of  Milford.  (Jreeting  to  .Ml."  Wide,  red.  white  and  blue  bunt' 
ing  was  festof)ned  along  the  entire  awning  in  front  of  the  stores. 

The  Library  building  was  bright  with  the  national  colors.  In  large 
gilt  letters  was  the  inscription,  "  Welcome  to  our  Sons  and  Daughters. 
In  front  of  Masonic  hall  windows,  hung  suspended  a  large  canvas  paint- 
ing emblematic  of  the  order.  The  interior  of  the  hall  wa.s  tjisU*fully 
decked  in  red,  white  and  blue,  tlraped  with  lace  about  the  stage  atid  bal- 
conies. On  the  wall  in  rear  of  stage  was  the  in.scription,  "Welcome 
Our  Guests."  Over  the  (juarters  of  the  fire  department  in  the  basement 
of  the  town  hall  annex,  were  numerous  American  flags  enclosing  a  can- 
vas painting  of  a  fire  scene,  steamer,  etc. 

The  Melzer  block,  next  l)eyond  the  Library,  exhibited  a  liberal  «le<'- 
oration,  in  the  center  of  which  was  a  canvas  painting  of  Union  .soldiers, 
entitled  the  "  Rear  (iuard."  Webster  block,  .\very's  building  and  the 
National  Bank  were  also  dressed  in  the  garb  of  national  emblems. 


MILFORl)  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION.  19 


At  Hamblett  and  Power's  block,  red,  white  aud  blue  bunting  was 
draped  along  the  coving  of  the  building  its  entire  length.  In  front  of 
G.  A.  R.  llall  appeared  national  colors,  and  large  canvas  painting,  rep- 
resenting "Sheridan's  ride  to  Winchester,"  also  numerous  army  corps 
badges,  and  W.  R.  C.  badge.  In  front  of  O.  U.  A.  M.  hall  were  flags 
and  a  large  portrait  of  George  W'ashiuj^tou,  underneath  of  which  appeared 
the  motto,  "  God  and  Our  Native  Land."  Bunting  was  also  festooned 
along  the  awning. 

The  livery  building  of  Frank  Ordway,  the  armory  of  Co.  D.,  and  Ken- 
ney's  building  were  radiant  with  flags  and  bunting  in  appropriate  form. 
The  Howison  House  on  the  evenings  of  the  25th  and  26th,  was  bril- 
liant with  colored  electric  lights  across  the  building  just  above  the  first 
and  second  story  windows.  In  the  day  time  the  houvse  was  ablaze  with 
bunting  and  the  national  colors.  There  was  also  displayed  a  canvas 
painting. 

The  awning  in  front  of  Wadleigh  block  was  uniquely  draped  in  red, 
white  and  blue  in  a  pleasing  design.  The  block  belonging  to  the  same 
estate  on  South  street,  was  finely  decorated  with  American  flags,  promi- 
nent in  view  was  a  large  canvas  painting  of  George  Washington.  Wal- 
lace block  on  corner  of  Square  and  South  street,  was  heavily  draped 
with  bunting.  On  the  front  surrounded  by  flags  and  streamers  was  a 
canvas  painting  representing  the  "  (loddess  of  Liberty."  There  were  also 
several  emblems  of  the  I.  O.  ().  F.  in  view.  Ryan's  livery  was  appro- 
priately decked  with  American  flags. 

The  oval,  so  recently  reconstructed,  aud  which  is  an  object  of  tradi- 
tional interest,  presented  a  fine  appearance,  being  profusely  decked  with 
the  flags  of  all  nations. 

The  post-office  manufactory  of  John  AlcLane  on  Nashua  street,  was 
covered  with  American  flags ;  on  one  point  of  the  building  was  a  canvas 
painting  representing  the  •'  Battle  of  Gettysburg,"  on  the  other  was  a 
representation  of  the  conflict  between  the  "  Monitor  and  Merrimac." 
The  Ganey  building  on  Middle  street,  occupied  by  the  Standard  Cloth- 
ing company,  was  duly  trimmed  with  the  national  colors. 

The  Catholic  Church  on  Amherst  street,  bore  unmistakable  marks  of 
patriotism  in  the  anniversary  celebration.  Its  imposing  front  was  richly 
decked  with  American  flags  and  streamers,  in  the  centre  of  which,  stand- 
ing out  prominently,  was  a  fine  portrait  of  the  Father  of  Our  Country — 
George  Washington. 

Connected  with  the  decoration  of  the  Shaw  house,  corner  of  Union 
and  Cottage  streets,  there  appeared  dates  and  names  of  considerable  his- 
toric interest.  ' 

The  residence  of  Mrs.  Wm.  Wallace  was  prettily  attired  in  decora- 
tive design,  with  American  flags  aud  streamers,  as  were  also  the  houses 
of  Dr.  Hutchinson  and  E.  C.  Batchelder.  B.  F.  Foster's  block  was  draped 
with  flags,  and  red,  white  and  blue  bunting  was  tastefully  festooned 
above  the  first  and  second  story.  Chase's  market  and  Bouteile's  harness 
shop  were  also  trimmed. 


20  MTLFORD  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 


Holland's  block  aiid  Saving's  bank  building  were  neatly  trimmed 
with  national  colors.  In  front  of  the  latter  was  the  inscription  "  Wel- 
come." over  the  entrance.  The  Ladies'  Exchange  was  prettily  noticed 
with  red,  white  and  blue  flags  an<}  slreaniers.  Eagle  Hall  building,  one 
of  the  olde.st  landmarks  in  the  town,  was  appropriately  attired  in  the 
national  colors,  and  bore  the  inscription,  "  We  greet  you  all."  Foster's 
block  was  bright  with  the  national  colors,  enclosing  the  motto,  "  Wash- 
ington, Father  of  Our  Country."  Shannaban's  building  bore  a  hand- 
!K)nie  design  of  Hags  and  streamers  appetided  from  a  gilt  eagle,  with  col- 
ore skirting  the  edge  of  the  awning. 

The  tenement  house  on  South  street,  besides  a  heavy  display  of 
bunting,  bore  a  long  painting  representing  Washington  crossing  the  Del- 
aware. Emerson  &  Son's  building  was  neatly  draped  with  the  national 
colors. 

The  store  of  C.  E.  Kendall  &  Co.,  proprietors  of  the  old  mill  store, 
was  fully  alive  to  the  sentiment  of  the  occasion,  and  the  front  of  tlie 
building  was  spread  with  stars  and  stripes  in  tasteful  arrangement. 

The  office  of  publication  of  the  Fumter's  Cnhinel  reflected  its  loyalty 
to  the  interests  of  the  nation,  state,  and  the  welfare  of  humanity,  by 
d'aping  its  street  front  with  the  emblems  of  our  national  unity. 

.Vlong  the  line  of  the  procession,  and  at  other  points,  private  resi- 
dences were  decorated  with  American  flags,  and  red,  whit«  and  blue 
bunting. 

In  truth,  the  whole  town  was  in  a  bla/e  of  red,  white  and  blue, 
everyone  decorating  their  buildings  to  a  greater  or  less  extent.  The 
spirit  was  universal. 


The  Procesaiori. 


At  an  early  hour  the  several  formations  that  were  to  constitute  a 
prominent  feature  in  our  centennial  celebration,  assembled  at  their 
resj)ective  ])oints.  The  headquarters  of  the  Chief  Mai-shal,  Col.  F.  E. 
Kaley,  accompanied  by  his  etticient  corpn  of  aids,  was  established  at 
Railroad  Square..  Promptly  at  the  hour  the  wonl  "  forward  "  came  from 
the  chief,  and  immediately  the  column  proceeded  on  its  way,  amid  the 
cheering  strains  of  mai-tial  music,  waving  of  flags  and  banners,  and  the 
applause  of  the  midtitude,  forming  ojie  of  the  mo.st  imjxwing  pageants 
ever  witnessed  in  the  enterprising  and  patriotic  old  town  of  Milford. 
The  divisions  were  formed  substantially  as  follows : 

Division  No.  i. 

Chief  Marshal,  Col.  F.  E.  Kaley. 

Chief  of  Staff,  F.  B.  Bartlett, 

Ai<to:  H.  F.  Warren,  Cha».   Came,   W.   A.  GniW,  F.   W.  Chue,  W. 

J.  Prince.  Gen.  C.  W.  Stevens,  F.  W.  Sawyer,  W.  I).  .Sargent, 

S.  A.  Outterson.  (ieo.  Smith  and  Frank  Jewett. 

S«cead  Resiinent   Band  of   Nashua,  30  pieces     (W.  A.  CnmminKS,  dir*ct«r.) 


MTLFORI)  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION.  2l 


Co.  D,  N    H.  N.(;. 
Lafayette  Artillery. 
Milford  Fire  Department. 
Ouosis  i;'  cirri.'ges. 
Governor  and  Stall,  President  uf  the  Day,  etc. 
The  following  composed  the  mercantile  department,   manufactures, 
trades'  and  agricultural  display  in  the  procession,  which  is  univei-sally 
pronounced  to  be  the  grandest  demonstration  of  the  kind  ever  conceived 
and  carried  out  in  a  town  of  this  size.     It  is  evidence  of  the  thrifty  and 
progressive  enterprise  uf  our  people,  and  promises  well  for  the  com- 
mencement of   the  second  century  : 

Division   No.  2. 
Milford  Cumet  Band. 
H.  H.  Barber,  float,  50   rolls  of  carpeting.   Banner — "Dry  Cioods,  Mil- 
linery, etc." 
K.  C.  Batchelder,  dry  goods  team. 
Mrs.  A.  J.  Bums,  covered  carriage,  millinery  scene. 
Ladies'  Exchange,  team  with  very   unique  equippage. 
J.  M.  Laws,  carriage  artistically  trimmed  with  specimens  of  the   shoe 
ti-ade,  and  occupied  by  daughter  Helen  and  Willie  Youmans. 

H.  K.  Warren,  team  driven  by  young  lady. 
W.  F.  French,  druggist,  team  bearing  huge  druggist's  mortar. 
Standard  Clothing  Co.,  float  containing  sewing  machine  and  also  print- 
ing press  in  operation. 
Boutelle,  hamessmaker,  lai:ge  float,  profuse  display  ;  K.  Allbee,  club 
swinging,  in  performance. 
Farm  wagon,  driven  by  H.  H.  Sanderson. 
D.  T.  Buttrick,  agricultural  tools,  3  teams. 
C.  E.  Kendall  &  Co.,  agricultural  tools,  2  teams. 
B.  F.  Foster,  undertaker,  2  teams. 
Kenney  &  Foster,  real  estate,  carriage. 
W.  R.  Putnam,  one  team,  harness  exhibit. 
E.  M.  Parker,  express  display,  i  team. 
Ed.  Shannessey,  wheelwright  establishment,  the  proprietor  working  at 
his  trade,  i  team. 
J.  E.  Bruce,  grocery  wagon,  driven  by  John  Bruce,  i  team. 
Hutchinson  &  Averill,  2  grocery  teams  representing  trade,  driven  by  lieo. 
"M.  Center  and  Fred  Winters,  i  team  occupied  by  firm. 
Stowell,  grocery  team,  trade  song  by  young  ladies. 
Thomas  Holland,  grocery  team,  driven  by  Eugene^Dutton. 
N.  W.  Robinson,  Milford's  veteran  meat  dealer,  2  meat  carts  decorated 
with  red,  white  and  blue. 
Holt  Bros.,  J  meat  carts,  and  wagon  loaded  with  fruit. 
W.  I.  Chase,  market  team. 
INIilford  Fish  market,  2  teams. 
Leland  Kenney,  painter's  team  and  ladder  wagon. 
Brahaney  &  Broderick,  carriage  and  ornamental  painting,  i  covered  car- 
riage. 
F.  W.  Famsworth,  stationer,  float — boat  filled  with  little  girls. 
John  Stevens,  restaurant  team. 
Emerson  &  .Son,  covered  float  with  parlor  furniture  e.xhibit. 

Division  No.  3. 

Wilton  Band,  Lyndeboro'  Artillery  company,  30  men,  and  piece  of  artil- 
lery. 
John  McLane,  float,  postofHce  outfit. 
French  &  Heald,  3  floats,  one  with  display  of  cheffomiers,  with  placard, 
"Our  line  for  iSg.t ;  one  with  sideboards,  placarded  "Our  lat- 
est;" one  with  packages  of  furniture. 
Hillsboro'  Mills,  float  with  woolen  blankets. 
Morse  &  Kaley,  float  with  display  of  colored  cottoa  yarn. 


MIF.KORl)  CEN'TENN'IAL  CKLKBRATION. 


Kartlelt  &  Son,  rtoat  with  exhibit  ui  hosiery. 
Wilkin*  Bros.,  Hoat  loaded  with  pai>er  boxes. 
A.  J.  KosJer,  team  covered  with  s|>cciinens  of  mor<M.c  <  manufacture. 
C.  Childs,  team,  exhibit  of  baskets. 
W.  E.  Pierce,  wooden  ware,  i  team. 
Kraiik  Hartshorn,  2  teams,  lumber. 
A    W    Hou'i&on,  1  team,  lumber. 
It    K.  Ome,  2  teams,  coal. 
Merrill  liriis.,  lo  teams,  represcntin;;  their  coal,  w(io<l,  and  ice  business. 
W.  N.  Ware,  team  representing  saw  mill  indu.str>'. 
Kivisics  No.  4. 
This  division  exhibited  the  agricultural  interests  of  our  town,  and  uas 
one  u(  the  most  u;iique  and  extensive  in  the  procession.     The  fact  was 
plainly  evident  that  much  skill    and  originality  of   design  liad  been   ex- 
pended in  the  con.stnictioii  of  the   vehicles  representing   the   oldest   and 
mos'.  substaiiti.^1  vocation  of  our  pcojile  during  the  hundred  years  of  (he 
town's  existence.     The  exhibit  was  chiefly  as  follows  : 

Four  large  floats,  each  one  displaying  in  sonic  form  the  products  of 
the  farm.  One  of  the  nunii^er  representing  spring,  summer,  autumn 
.uul  winter,  and  all  of  them  ctmtained  a  number  of  young  Misses  appro- 
priately attired 

Jenkins,  |x>ultry  team. 
W.  H,  Tarbell,  three  seated  team,  neatly  trimmed 
W    H.  Cleaves,  milk  wagon 
W.  H.  Kendall,  lieo.  Rayiii<nid  and  others,  8  teams. 
W.  k.  Fitch,  poultry  team 
.\lon20  Howard,  hay  wagon. 
v.  C  Houlelle,  fruit  dealer,  donkey  cart. 
A  portion  of  this  display  was  under  the   anspices  of  the  (>rangcni.     A 
pleasing   fe.tture   of  Ithis  diWsion  w;is   the  appearance  ol   the  following 
young   ladies,    neatly   attired,  on    horseback  :    .Sadie    Krench,    lx>uise 
Anderson,  Koselle  Hutchinson,  .Maud  Taggart,  and  Jesse  iiutchinson. 
Division   No.  5. 
Mechanics  Coniet  Hand. 
This  division  was  made  up  almost  entirely  of  heavy  teams,  represent- 
ing   tile   granite    interest,  now  one  of  the  most  promising  and  extensive 
in  our  midst 

C  W.  Stevens,  2  teams;  K.  (1  Kittredge,  i  team;  C.  W.  Carkin,  1 
team:  I).  1..  Daniels  &  Co.,  1  team:  J.  R.  Thon)|)Son,  i  team  :  Young 
>*(  Co.,  I  team  ;   Milford  (iranite  Co..  1  team. 

These  teams  were  nearly  all  drawn  by  four  horses,  and  contained  sitec- 
i mens  of  rough  and  linislud  work  'lliev  attracted  universal  attention. 
The  procession  was  nearly  forty  minutes  in  (Mssing  a  given  |>oiul,and 
was  pronounced  one  of  tiie  finest  civic  processions  ever  witnessed  in  the 
.State.  It  was  thoroughly  illustrative  ot  Milford's  enterprise  and  re- 
sources. 


Proiinitly  :it  lo  o'clock  thf>  |»roce.ssion  iiiarciied  down  Union  Street  to 
I'liion  Sqnnre.  throngli  I'nion  SqiiHit*  to  Nii.sliua  Street,  Nasliuu  to  Clin- 
ton. Clinton  to  South,  South  to  Lincoln,  Lincoln  to  I'nion,  Union  to  (Jar- 
den,  (lurden  to  Cottajje,  Cottage  to  Klni,  Elm  to  Union  Stjuare,  through 
I'nion  Stjuare  to  Afuher.st,  Amherst  t«j  Sonhegan,  Souhegan  to  Pleasant, 
Pleasant  to  Orchard,  Orchard  lo  Chestnut,  CheHtnut  to  Amherst, 
Amlu'rst  to  (irove,  (irove  to  I'nion  Sijuare. 

I'jx)n  the  coriipletion  of  the  parade  it  was  reviewed  bv  the  (Jovernor 
and  his  Staff  and  invited  guests,  luiseinltletl  on  the  Town  Hall  st«i>r<. 


IKIilfoFd,  %  H-  Centennial  GelebFation, 

3une  26.  1894. 


""^SfS^ — "^^gi  "iXs'ST^  ~*^^5x§:7^ 


New  Hampshire  Turkey, 


Hot  Rolls. 


[cnu. 

COLD  MEATS. 

Roast  Beef, 

Lobster  Salad. 
Radi.^hes. 

Hot  Baked  Beaus. 
Cold  Bread. 

PASTRY. 

Lemon  Pie. 


Sugar  Cured  Hiim. 


Brown  Bread. 

Frostetl  Custard  Pie. 
Orange  Cake. 


Mince  Pie. 

Bride'.s  Cake.  Chocolate  Layer  Cake. 

Strawberry  Cake. 

Vanilla  Ice  Cream.  Frozen  Pudding. 

Coffee.  Tea.  Milk. 

Oranges.  Bananas. 


MILFORD  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION.  23 


The  Lafayette  Artillery  Coiiipauy  of  LyiideV)oroiiiy;ii,  that  appeared 
in  the  parade  is  the  fourth  oldest  company  in  the  country,  havinjj  heen 
formed  in  1804,  and  has  maintained  its  organization  ever  since. 

After  the  review  of  the  procession  the  Milford  Fire  Department 
gave  an  exhibition  upon  Union  Square,  attracting  much  favorable  com- 
ment by  their  efficiency  and  promptnes?.. 

Dinner  was  served  in  a  huge  tent  erected  at  Endicott  Park,  by 
Caterer  John  Stevens,  at  50  cents  per  plate.  The  following  bill  of  fare 
was  Reived : 

Cold  Turkey.  Ham.  Beef. 

Hot  Baked  Beans.  Brown  Bread. 

Hot  Roll.<!. 

Pies  and  Cake.  Hot  Coffee. 


Dinner  for  two  hundred  invited  guests  was  served  at  the  Banquet 
Hall  of  the  Town  House,  and  was  in  charge  of  Mas.sec'i,  caterer  from 
Nashua.     The  blessing  was  pronounced  by  the  Rev.  Josejih  Foster. 


Si^orts. 


While  a  large  gathering  was  as.sembled  in  the  Town  Hall  to 
listen  to  the  literary  exercises  there,  others  gathered  at  the  Park 
to  M'itness  the  ba.se  ball  contest  between  the  Milfords  and  the  Mattliew.s 
of  Lowell. 

It  was  one  of  the  largest  gatherings  ever  assembled  at  t}ie  Park  that 
witnessed  the  base  ball  game.  It  was  a  close  contest,  and  resulted  in 
the  defeat  in  the  Lowell  visitors  in  a  .-^core  of  8  to  7.  The  following 
shows  the  make  up  and  score  of  the  clubs  : 


MILFORDS. 

MATTHEWS. 

Mullen,  3b.  * 

M.\.HOXKY.  3b. 

T.  YorxG,  ss. 

tiALLAGHF:R,    LF. 

HlXDS.    LF. 

TuoKXTOx,  In. 

]\lANMX(i,    C. 

Mc(JuiRK.  2b. 

J.  IIowisox,  'Jn. 

Flyxx,  c. 

Roach,  1b. 

McGuAXK,  .ss. 

B.    YoLXG,    CF. 

Vaughn,  of. 

Xoi.AX.    HF. 

Kelly,  rf. 

Sl'TTF.H,     V. 

HaVLIX,     1'. 

PONI),    (SI'B.). 

Inmngs                1         2 

3 

4 

.") 

()         7         S         !» 

Tot'l 

Milfords  -    -        2        (» 

0 

0 

;', 

:?        0        *        * 

—     8 

Matthews     -        3        0 

0 

1 

1 

0         2         *         * 

—    7 

24  MILFORD  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 


At  2:20  o'clock  the  bicycle  race  UmV  phu-e,  the  t'oUowing  named  rid- 
em  Iiaviug  eiitreed  the  contest : 

Bkntox  Mim.8,  W.  J.  Elliott, 

A.  R.  Wkbstek,  C.  a.   McLane, 

C.    F.    ISOLA,  rKRLKY    MaRTIN, 

Ktyw.  Crowell,  J.  T.  Gautier, 

L.  A.  Hutchinson.  L.  H.  Hall, 

a.  VV.  Blancharh. 
The  point  of  starting  was  in  front  of  Town  house,  over  a  seven 
mile  course,  uj)  one  side  of  the  river  and  down  the  other,  finishing:  in 
front  of  Bartlett's  store.  F*irst  prize,  u  fJ25  medal,  won  by  Benton  Mills. 
time  25  minutes  and  HO  and  3-.")  secoonds;  second  prize,  $10  bicycle  lan- 
tern, Arthur  R.  Webster ;  third  prize,  cyclometer,  C.  K.  Isola. 


EXERCISES  AT  THE  HALL. 


COL.  J.  W.  CROSBY. 

Col.  J.  W.  Crosby,  Chairman  of  the  Town  Committee,  called  the 
meeting  to  order,  and  spoke  as  follows  : 
Ladies,  Friends,  and  Fellow  Citizens  : 

We  are  glad  to  greet  you  on  this  day  of  days,  for  dear  old  Milford, 
and  have  you  with  us  to  participate  in  oui-  festivities  on  this,  to  us,  joy- 
ful occasion,  and  one  hundredth  anniversary.  The  matter  of  celebrat- 
ing the  one  hundredth  anniversary  of  our  incorporation  as  a  town  was 
talked  up  in  town  meeting  in  the .  year  1892.  It  was  then  decided  that 
we  celebrate  the  centennial  in  1894.  And  our  Senators  and  Representa- 
tives elect  to  the  Legislature  of  1893,  were  instructed  to  have  passed  an 
Enabling  Act  by  which  the  town  could  appropriate  money  to  celebrate 
its  centennial.  At  the  tow  meeting  in  March,  1893,  a  committee  was  ap- 
pointed to  arrange  for  an  appropriation  of  our  one  hundredth  anniver- 
sarsary.  And  they  have  worked  early  and  late,  with  the  cordial  assist- 
ance of  the  town's  people  generally,  to  make  it  a  success.  Whether  they 
have  done  so  or  not,  we  leave  you  to  judge.  To  those  who  have  gone 
from  our  borders,  and  all  others,  I  would  say  that  we  who  have  one  of 
the  smartest,  prettiest  little  towns  in  all  creation,  and  strive  by  making 
improvements  every  year,  te  make  it  in  all  respects  "  the  banner  town  " 
of  the  old  "Granite  State.  But  my  weakness  admonishes  me  that  I 
must  not  talk  at  this  time.  Therefore,  we  will  proceed  with  the  order  of 
exercises  at  once.  Please  give  your  attention  to  an  invocation  by  a  na- 
tive of  Milford,  Rev.  Joseph  C.  Foster,  D.D. : 

PRAYER  BY  REV.  JOSEPH  C.  FOSTER. 

O  Lord,  our  God, — our  God, — our  father's  God !  we  would  acknowl- 
edge Thee  in  all  our  ways,  so  that  our  paths  may  be  wisely  and  safely 
directed.  Thou  hast  manifested  Thyself  to  us  in  kindness  and  love, 
through  the  various  ways  in  which  Thou  hast  led  us  individually  and 
collectively.     We  may  confidently  look  to  Thee  as  the  God  of  nations, 


26  MILFORD  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

states  and  towns,  as  well  as  of  individuals.  Humbly  and  devoutedly 
would  we  thank  Thee  for  what  Thou  hast  been  to  us  as  a  nation,  over 
the  destinies  of  which  Thou  hast  graciously  presided  ;  and  as  a  town,  in 
all  the  history  of  which  Thy  guiding  atid  helping  hand  has  been  sure. 
We  thank  Thee  for  the  auspicious  beginning  of  this  town,  and  for  its 
helpful  progress,  from  year  to  year,  till  a  full  century  has  ended  since  it 
came  into  worthy  existence.  Thou  hast  been  known  in  all  the  periods 
of  the  history  which  are  reviewed  with  thankfulness  and  joyfulness 
to-day.  Early  was  Thy  name  honored  and  Thy  worship  established  here. 
Never  has  there  failed  to  be  the  recognition  of  Thy  supremacy  afforded 
by  a  House  of  God,  in  which  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  might  assemble 
as  the  worshippers  of  Him  from  whom  all  blessings  come.  Even  has 
Thy, wisdom  and  goodness  been  seen  in  the  inestimable  provision  Thou 
hast  made,  that  with  religious  privileges  educational  advantages  might 
be  enjoyed.  For  the  churches  and  the  schools  we  would  give  Thee 
thanks.  Unto  Thee  we  would  ascribe  honor,  and  render  praise  for  the 
virtue  and  intelligence,  the  piety  and  learning  that  have  been  developed 
in  all  the  years  embraced  in  the  centennial  period  now  commemorated. 
To  these  advantages  and  consequent  blessings  we  reverently  trace, 
through  Thy  good  providence,  the  worthy  citizenship  with  which  the 
town  has  been  favored,  and  the  substantial  prosperty  which  has  prevailed 
from  generation  to  generation,  making  the  town  honorable  and  commend- 
able in  its  record,  attractive  and  delightful  for  residence,  and  of  pleasant 
memory  as  a  cherished  native  place. 

As  Thou  hast  been  favorable  unto  the  dwellers  here  in  all  the  hun- 
dred years  that  are  past,  so  wilt  contine  to  prosper  and  bless  in  all  the 
affairs  of  the  town,  making  the  future  better  than  the  past  to  all  that 
pertains  to  true  prosperity  and  honorably  successful  endeavor.  Let  the 
best  interests  of  the  people  be  ensured ;  let  adversity  and  calamity  be 
averted ;  let  industry  and  sobriety,  temperance  and  morality,  intelligence 
and  religions  have  enlarged  and  ever  enlarging  development.  May 
happy  homes  henceforth,  be  more  and  more  numerous,  and  all  classes 
and  conditions  of  the  inhabitants  be  virtuous  and  intelligent,  moral 
and  religious.  And  may  this  commemorative  occasion  be  the  beginning 
of  the  brightest  and  best  period  in  the  history  of  the  town,  hitherto,  and 
may  the  next  hundred  years  be  crowned  with  the  richest  blessings  of 
Thy  kind  providence  and  Thine  abounding  grace.  These  offerings  of 
thanksgiving  and  supplication  we  now  devoutly  make  in  the  name  of 
our  Lord,  Jesus  Christ.     Amen. 

JUDGE  R.  M.  WALLACE. 

CoL  Crosby : — I  now  have  the  honor  and  great  pleasure  of  present- 
ing to  you  as  President  of  the  Day,  our  highly  esteemed  citizens,  Judge 
Robert  M.WaUace: 
Ladies  and  Gentlemen: 

One  hundred  years  ago  the  good  old  town  of  Milford  began  its 
existence,  and  we  have  met  to-day  to  celebrate  the  centennial  anniver- 


JUDGE  ROBERT  M.  WALLACE, 
President  of  the  Day. 


MILFORD  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION.  27 

sary  of   that  important  event,  and  to  awaken  in  our  minds  tlie  mem- 
ories and    inspirations  of  the  past. 

To  those  of  the  sons  and  daughters  of  Milford  who  do  not  now  re- 
side here,  but  who  in  obedience  to  the  ties  of  birth,  or  former  residence, 
have  returned  to  show  your  interest  in  and  loyalty  to  the  town,  by 
participating  in  the  exercises  of  this  day,  I  bid  you  in  the  name  of  the 
town  and  people  of  Milford,  a  most  hearty  and  cordial  welcome. 

Your  presence  here  in  such  numbers  on  this  occasion  gives  us  the 
greatest  pleasure,  and  we  trust  you  will  find  this  day  spent  in  re- 
visiting and  recalling  old  and  familiar  scenes  in  this  beautiful  Souhe- 
gan  valley,  and  in  reviving  and  renewing  old  associations  and 
friendships,  both  a  pleasant  and  profitable  one. 

It  is  a  beautiful  and  instructive  custom  to  properly  commemorate  an 
important  event  in  the  life  of  an  individual,  or  in  the  history  of  a  commu- 
nity. The  one  hundredth  anniversary  of  the  birth  of  a  town  which  re- 
calls and  keeps  alive  the  memories  of  the  labors  and  sacrifices  of  the 
fathers  in  founding  a  representative  New  England  town  like  Milford,  is 
an  event  which  their  descendants,  who  are  in  the  slightest  degree  worthy 
to  succeed  them,  will  never  siiffer  to  pass  unnoticed  or  unobserved,  but 
will  gratefully  and  loyally  commemorate. 

Nowhere  does  the  town  hold  so  important  a  place  in  the  affairs  of  the 
community  as  in  New  England.  The  town  system  not  only  furnishes  to 
the  people  of  New  England,  the  most  perfect  form  of  free  government 
in  local  affairs,  but  its  influence  in  educating  and  training  the  people  in 
the  truest  and  highest  ideas  of  democracy,  and  implanting  in  their  minds 
those  fundamental  principles  which  are  essential  to  any  form  of  a  Repub- 
lican government,  is  without  a  parallel  anywhere  else.  And  from  this 
town  system  in  its  relation  to  the  State,  supreme  in  the  control  of  local 
affairs,  yet  subordinate  in  state  affairs,  sprang  the  very  idea  upon  which 
the  republic  was  founded  which,  while  allowing  to  the  several  states,  su 
preme  control  in  national  affairs.  Thus  was  discovered  that  great  princi. 
pie  which  liberty  loving  people  in  all  ages  of  the  world  sought  for  in  vain 
which  makes  possible  at  the  same  time  individual  freedom  and  home  rule 
in  local  affairs,  and  a  strong,  central,  national  government  to  preserve 
itself  from  internal  strife  and  foreign  aggression.  The  first  settlers  of 
this  town,  both  before  and  after  its  incorporation,  endured  great  hard- 
ships and  privations.  It  is  difficult  for  us  at  this  time  to  thoroughly  reaL 
ize  the  discomforts,  difficulties  and  dangers  of  going  into  a  wilderness, 
beset  with  savages  and  wild  beasts,  clearing  and  reclaiming  the  land,  build- 
ing houses,  making  roads,  and  instituting  a  minature  state,  for  such  was 
the  original  New  Hampshire  town.  Yet  that  is  what  the  original  settlers 
of  Milford  did,  first,  as  inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Dunstable  in  1738,  next 
of  Monson,  then  of  Amherst,  and  finally  one  hundred  years  ago  feeling 
themselves  too  strong  to  remain  longer  in  leading  strings,  formed  them- 
selves into  a  separate  town  and  secured  the  incorporation  of  Milford,  in 
1794.  Strong  character  is  only  developed  and  produced  by  correspond- 
ingly great  trials  and  difficulties.    No  hardy  race  was  ever  nourished  in 


28  MtLFORD  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRAI'iblJ. 


the  lap  of  luxury  and  ease.  The  privations  and  trials  of  these  original 
proprietors  of  the  town  produced  a  strong  and  vigorous  people.  They 
recognized  no  difficulties  except  as  something  to  be  overcome,  and  they 
left  the  impress  of  their  character  upon  their  descendants  and  upon  the 
people  of  this  town,  which  inspired  the  people  of  New  England  in  1775 
and  many  of  them,  were  at  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill,  under  the  com- 
mand of  that  brave  old  patriot  Capt.  Josiah  Crosby  of  this  place.  Tlie 
people  of  that  town  were  imbued  with  the  spirit  of  indej^endence,  they 
were  also  actuated  by  a  strong  religious  sentiment.  They  were  deeply 
impressed,  not  only  with  the  importance,  but  with  the  imperative  neces- 
sity of  education  for  the  highest  development  of  the  individual  and  of 
the  community. 

This  town  in  the  first  century  of  its  existence  has  been  what  we 
should  have  a  right  to  expect  it  would  be,  fi-om  a  town  thus  founded  and 
established.  The  religious  characteristics  and  development  have  always 
been  an  important  feature  from  the  days  of  the  practical  teachings  of 
that  vigorous  Christian,  Rev.  Mr.  Moore,  the  first  settled  minister  of  the 
town,  to  the  present  time,  and  something  that  had  to  be  recognized 
and  taken  into  account  in  the  settlement  of  any  important  que.stion  in 
the  community.  The  numerous  strong  religious  societies  in  this  town, 
with  their  large  membership  and  handsome  churches,  show  that  this  sen- 
timent still  exists. 

This  town  has  always  ranked  high  in  educational  lines,  her  public 
schools  being  among  the  best.  Her  school  houses  have  been  a  credit  to 
the  town,  and  the  new  school  house  about  to  be  built,  attests  the  fact 
that  the  spirit  that  has  controlled  the  town  in  the  past,  in  educational 
matters,  still  anmates  her  jieople.  The  large  and  well  selected  library 
in  its  convenient  and  commodious  quarters,  not  presented  to  the  town 
by  some  rich  man,  but  which  the  town  provided  for  itself,  speaks  well 
for  the  culture  of  the  people. 

That  spirit  of  freedom  which  actuated  the  fathers  of  the  town,  in 
the  early  days,  has  shown  itself  in  a  marked  degree,  in  the  agitation  and 
earnest  effort  which  many  of  the  best  people  made  in  the  anti-slavery 
controversy.  It  was  then  that  the  Hutchinson  Family  did  so  much  for 
the  cause  by  their  songs,  and  sang  themselves  into  national  fame.  Later 
still,  the  same  spirit  manifested  itself  when  in  the  war  of  the  Rebellion, 
the  town  sent  her  noblest  and  bravest  sons  to  the  aid  of  the  country  in 
the  hour  of  ite  peril.  Their  sacrifices  and  achievements  in  that  struggle 
make  a  glorious  record,  honorable  alike  to  themselves  and  the  town. 

This  community  has  been  one  of  the  foremost  in  the  state  in  the 
cause  of  temperance.  When  the  town  was  first  established  it  was  then 
thought  proper  for  all,  from  the  minister  down,  to  drink,  and  that  all 
important  events,  like  trainings  or  raisings,  could  not  be  successfully  car- 
ried on,  except  under  the  inspiration  to  be  derived  from  frequent  jKjta- 
tions  of  New  England  rum.  But  since  the  temperance  question  was 
recognized  in  this  country  as  one  of  the  great  moral  questions,  Milford 
was  not  only  quick  to  recognize  the  incalculable  evils  of  intemperance  to 


GOV.  JOHN  B.  SMITH. 


kiLFORD  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION.  29 

the  individual  and  the  community,  but  was  equally  prompt  to  do  all  in 
her  power  to  remedy  this  evil. 

Milford  has  been,  and  is,  one  of  the  most  progressive  towns  in  the 
state,  and  her  influence  has  been,  and  is  felt  in  the  state  for  good.  Her 
business  interests  have  prospered.  No  need  to  look  for  abandoned 
farms  in  this  fertile  valley  where  the  agricultural  interests  are  so  well 
looked  after  by  progressive  farmers.  Our  growing  manufacturing  inter- 
ests, and  our  splendid  granite  quarries  develop  and  add  to  the  growth  of 
the  town.  Our  enterprising  merchants  minister  so  well  to  the  wants  of 
this  and  surrounding  communities,  that  they  add  to  the  wealth  and  im- 
portance of  the  town. 

Our  large  and  fine  public  buildings,  our  water  works,  sewers  and 
electric  lights,  are  evidences  of  the  general  prosperity. 

But  after  aU  the  best  product  of  the  town  is  the  many  noble  men 
and  women  it  has  given  to  the  world,  whose  lives  of  usefulness  and 
honor  within  the  town,  or  wherever  they  may  have  wandered,  have 
directly  and  indirectly  made  the  town  what  it  has  been  and  is,  and  have 
added  lustre  to  the  pages  of  its  history. 

It  was  for  the  founders  of  this  town,  and  those  who  succeeded  them 
in  the  first  century  of  her  existence  thus  to  build,  so  that  we  to-day  con- 
templating their  work  are  proud  of  it,  and  have  a  right  to  be.  It  is  ours 
to  carry  on  and  maintain  this  work  thus  splendidly  begun,  to  keep  the 
noble  heritage  they  have  bequeathed  us  free  from  crime,  irreligion,  intem- 
perance or  any  taint,  and  those  tendencies  to  socialism  and  anarchy  which 
threaten  us  to-day. 

And  I  close  with  this  thought ;  may  we,  and  those  who  come  after 
us  in  this  second  century  of  the  existence  of  the  town  of  Milford,  so  well 
perform  their  duty  in  this  respect,  that  when  the  circling  years  shall 
have  finally  brought  the  second  centennial  of  this  town,  our  descendants 
shaU  then  gratefully  commemorate  the  deeds  of  the  second  century  of 
the  town  as  well  as  of  the  first. 

GOVERNOR  JOHN  B.  SMITH. 

President  Wallace : — To-day  is  the  birthday  of  the  Town  of  Milford, 
and  many  of  the  distinguished  men  of  the  State  have  come  to  pay  their 
respects  to  her  and  do  her  honor.  Among  them  is  one  whom  the  loyal 
people  of  the  town  will  especially  delight  to  welcome.  His  Excellency, 
John  B.  Smith,  Governor  of  the  State,  who  will  present  the  compli- 
ments of  the  State  of  New  Hampshire  to  the  Town  of  Milford  on  this 
occasion. 
Mr.  President,  Ladies  and  Gentlemen,  Citizens  of  Milford  : 

I  esteem  it  a  great  pleasure  as  well  as  privilege  to  be  present  on  this 
interesting  occasion,  and  join  with  you  in  the  observance  of  the  one 
hundredth  anniversary  of  the  incorporation  of  your  town.  I  shall  not 
enter  into  the  history  of  the  town  in  detail.  I  shall  leave  that  to  others, 
to  those  who  have  made  special  study  of  the  different  features  of  its 


30  MILFORD  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

settlement  and  its  history.  I  shall  content  myself  with  only  a  brief 
generalization  and  some  words  of  congratulation.  You  are  to  be  con- 
gratulated, certainly,  in  having  such  unanimity  of  purpose  from  the 
beginning  of  this  worthy  enterprise ;  such  competent  and  painstaking 
committees  whose  work  of  preparation  in  every  detail  has  been  so 
enthusiastically  undertaken  and  so  well  done.  All  your  people  seem  to 
have  entered  earnestly  into  the  work,  and  in  such  a  manner  as  to  make 
the  occasion  what  it  is,  —  a  perfect  success,  reflecting  credit  upon  a  town 
always  noted  for  its  intelligence  and  spirit  of  enterprise, — for  its  push 
and  energy. 

The  glory  of  New  England  is  not  its  great  cities,  although  they  are 
important  factors  in  its  social  and  natural  development.  But  its  glory 
is  its  rural  towns  and  villages,  for  in  them  is  developed  the  best  and 
truest  type  of  our  boasted  civilization.  Great  cities  are  often  politically 
and  socially  corrupt.  The  country  towns  are  the  conservators  of  what  is 
best  in  our  institutions.  They  represent  the  purest  Americanism,  and 
best  preserve  the  character  and  traditions,  the  faith  and  principles  of 
the  fathers  and  founders  of  the  Republic.  Their  healthy  conservatism, 
intelligence  and  moral  worth,  must  ever  constitute  our  chief  safe  guard, 
and  are  the  sheet  anchor  of  our  free  institutions.  We  annually  receive 
hundreds  of  thousands  of  emigrants  from  other  lauds.  The  thrifty  and 
honest,  from  whatever  land  they  come,  of  whatever  race  or  creed,  we 
welcome ;  but  whether  we  welcome  them  or  not,  they  will  come  (unless 
some  wholesome  immigration  legislation  shall  interj>ose,  and  may  it  not 
be  long  delayed),  and  they  come  with  ideas  and  principles  and  customs 
as  foreign  as  themselves.  Much  of  this  infusion  tends  to  vitiate  our 
political  blood  and  to  corrupt  our  morals,  and  overturn  our  social  condi- 
tions and  customs.  It  is  too  much  the  habit  of  our  immigrants  to  tarry 
in  the  great  cities,  adding  to  the  sum  of  corruption  and  ignorance,  and 
aggravating  the  already  too  prevalent  political  disease. 

Tlie  continual  healthy  flow  of  rural  blood  into  these  cities  will  prove 
the  only  antidote  and  counteracting  influence.  To  the  country  then  we 
must  look  for  the  solution  of  our  social  and  political  problems.  The  in- 
fluences that  reach  out  from  our  country  towns  with  their  simple  virtues 
and  sevant  morals,  are  really  the  basis  of  our  hopes;  but  for  these  we 
might  well  despair.  Such  a  typical  model  New  England  and  New 
Hampshire  town  is  Milford.  I  have  already  paid  tribute  to  the  moral 
worth,  intelligence  and  enterprise  of  its  people.  Here,  religious,  educa- 
tional, and  charitable  institutions  are,  and  have  ever  been  liberally  sus- 
tained. Sobriety  and  virtue  have  l)een  characterbtic  of  your  people. 
Here  business  enterprises  have  flourished  and  successful  industrial  estab- 
lishments have  furnished  remunerative  employment ;  and  where  none 
need  be,  few  have  been  disposed  to  be  idle.  Lal)or  here  has  always  been 
honorable  and  respected,  because  it  is  self-respecting  and  unusually  intel- 
ligent. As  a  consequence  very  little  antagonism  between  labor  and  capi- 
tal is  found  here  and  strikes  are  unknown.  The  intelligent  working 
man  appreciates  the  advantage  of  well  managed  and  well  directed  capi- 


DKA.  K.  U.  BOYUSTON. 


MILFORD  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION.  81 

tal,  and  the  humane  and  liberal  employer  respects  and  honors  his  em- 
ployees as  helpers  and  co-workers. 

This  town  has  been  noted  for  its  loyalty  and  patriotism  as  we 
might  well  expect  of  such  a  people.  A  hundred  years  measures  the 
age  of  your  town  as  a  public  corporation,  but  it  does  not  measure  the 
history  of  this  community.  The  territory  now  known  as  Milford  town- 
ship was  taken  from  older  corporate  towns,  and  was  settled  for  half  a 
century  previous  to  the  beginning  of  your  own  distinctive  town  life. 
From  this  settlement  undoubtedly  went  forth  some  of  its  young  men  to 
the  French  and  Indian  wars — and  later  went  forth  sturdy  bands  of 
patriots  to  the  war  of  the  American  revolution.  To  the  call  for  volun- 
teers in  the  war  of  the  rebellion,  Milford  made  prompt  and  continual 
response.  Her  sons  distinguished  themselves  in  that  great  struggle,  and 
among  the  many  brave  soldiers  who  are  remembered  today  with  the 
gratitude  of  their  countrymen,  none  was  braver  than  Col.  Lull  of  your 
own  town.  Other  names  of  your  brave  sons  might  be  added,  who 
counted  not  their  lives  deai"  that  they  might  lay  them  on  the  altar  of 
their  country.  The  cause  of  human  liberty  and  the  equal  rights  of  ail 
men,  whether  black  or  white,  was  early  espoused  in  Milford,  and  who 
shall  say  the  sweet  songs  of  the  Hutchinson's  were  any  less  potent  in 
the  great  anti-slavery  crusade  than  the  eloquence  of  PhiUips,  or  the  pen 
of  Garrison.  Total  abstinence  from  the  use  of  intoxicating  liquors 
found  early  champions  here  who  practiced  what  they  preached,  and  the 
character  of  your  town  is  still  unchanged  on  these  great  questions,  and 
it  stands  to-day  amongst  New  Hampshire  communities  in  the  fore  front 
of  progress  and  true  reform.  Your  town  is  well  located  in  the  heart  of 
the  most  prosperous  section  of  the  State.  It  has  enjoyed  good  railroad 
facilities,  which  are  soon  to  be  considerably  enlarged.  You  have  much 
to  be  thankful  for,  much  to  be  proud  of,  and  great  reason  to  be  hopeful 
of  the  future.  You  are  destined  to  increase  in  numbers  and  mutual 
wealth,  and  a  consequent  extension  and  widening  of  that  influence  for 
moulding  the  destiny  of  our  state  and  of  the  countiy,  which  has  ever 
been,  and  we  trust  always  will  be,  wholesome  and  helpful. 

DEA.  EDWARD  D.  BOYLSTON. 

President  Wallace: — Once  Milford  was  a  part  of  the  Town  of 
Amherst,  is  the  child  of  Amherst.  The  parent  town  after  carefully  rear- 
ing and  training  her,  when  she  reached  her  majority  one  hundred  years 
ago,  allowed  her  to  set  up  for  herself,  with  the  blessing  of  the  parent 
town.  We  have  with  us  to-day,  Dea.  E.  D.  Boylston  of  Amherbt,  who 
will  now  give  us  the  congratulations  of  that  town  on  the  credit  Milford 
has  done  to  her  training  in  her  first  century. 
Mr.  President,  Ladies  and  Gentlemen  :  — 

By  the  appointment  and  request  of  the  authorities  of  the  mother 
town,  and  approval  of  her  special  delegation,  it  affords  me  profound 
pleasure  to  extend  the  cordial  and  most  hearty  greetings  of  old  Amherst, 


32  MILFORD  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

to  the  thrifty,  well-todo  and  honored  second  daughter,  on  this  the  one 
hundredth  anniversary  of  the  occasion  of  this  relation. 

In  doing  so  I  am  reminded  of  an  incident  in  our  early  local  history 
of  the  couplet  of  a  lad  (who  after  became  an  Amherst  lawyer),  that 
with  antipodal  play  upon  its  formative  word,  may  be  aptly  here  re- 
produced :  — 

"  You'd  scarce  expect  one  of  my  aoe 
To  speak  in  public  on  the  stage." 

But  these  cong^ratulations  may  not  be  the  less  acceptable,  coming,  as 
they  do,  from  one  who  knows,  by  personal  contact,  of  what  he  speaks. 
For  fourscore  years  I  have  been,  as  it  were,  among  you,  and  for  three- 
score journalized  for  a  large  proportion  of  your  families  —  known  your 
every  clergy  and  professional  man,  advertised  your  almost  every  mer- 
chant and  mechanic,  and  social  and  business  change;  and  when  I  speak 
congratulatory  of  your  progress  and  weal,  "  speak  what  I  know,  and  tes- 
tify of  what  I  have  seen."  '' 

Few  towns  have  been  more  highly  favored  in  all  these  relations  than 
Milford,  until  to-day  the  daughter  stands  "  head  and  ears "  above  the 
mother,  on  high  vantage  ground,  and  observes  her  first  centennial  in  a 
glow  of  ascendancy,  pride  of  circumstance,  and  richness  of  perspective, 
that  makes  it  a  delightful  duty  to  bring  to  you  these  maternal  congratu- 
lations. 

One  hundred  years  ago  Amherst  knew,  as  you  to-day,  the  pride  of 
position  and  ascendency — the  third  or  fourth  town  in  the  State,  commer- 
cially, and  the  first  in  the  County,  with  all  its  courts  and  public  offices, 
and  even  a  session  of  the  State  legislature,  which  only  four  other  towns 
have  known  ;  while  Milford,  in  swaddling  clothes,  took  on  a  name  indi- 
cating that  she  had  no  bridge  whereon  to  pass  her  waters. 

Tempora  mutantur,  nos  et  miUimur,  in  illis. 

"  The  times  are  changed,  and  we  are  changed  with  them." 

Our  1,600  inhabitants  have  become  1,000,  your  1,000  more  than 
3,000.  Our  courts  and  courtiers  have  all  left  us ;  our  trade  turns  to  your 
doors,  and  passes  your  elegant  bridge ;  and  our  pleasure  seekers  seek 
their  pleasure  in  your  park  and  of  your  band.  But  for  a  score  of  years, 
in  musical  reciprocity  we  have  not  been  wholly  lacking  I  know,  it  hav- 
ing cost  my  personal  team  more  than  2,000  trips,  and  10,000  miles  travel. 

"  God  is  judge ;  he  setteth  up  one,  and  putteth  down  another." 
With  the  Divine  allotments  it  becometh  all  to  acquiesce,  and  we  cheer- 
fully do  so  to-day,  bidding  you  God-speed  in  your  progressive,  upward 
career. 

Most  prominent  in  our  congratulations  truth  and  duty  compel  us  to 
place  your  noble  progenitors.  If  you  have  aught  that  calls  for  profound 
congratulation  it  is  beneath  your  soil,  and  deserving  of  its  richest  granite  I 
the  noble  fathers  and  mothers  sleeping  in  your  tombs  —  at  the  very  men- 
tion of  whom  every  bosom  must  swell  with  a  grateful,  holy  pride.  Hun- 
dreds of  these  as  my  patrons  and  warm  friends  are  before  me  to-day 
with  a  warm  recall,  whom  to  name  would  be  to  praise  —  the  privilege  of 
others.    They  constitute  your  noblost  inheritance,  as  underlying  and 


MILFORD  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION.  33 


enduring,  and  thousand-fold  more  worthy  and  ennobling  than  the  granite 
you  so  cherish,  of  them  so  beautifully  emblematic. 

We  congratulate  you  upon  your  forth-coming  beautiful  Town  His- 
tory, and  that  you  have  such  proud  history  to  record,  and  such  worthy 
and  indefatigable  men  to  record  it.     They  deserve  your  warmest  regard. 

We  heartily  congratulate  you  upon  the  high  political  standing  that 
gives  you  to-day  two  candidates  for  our  State  Governorship,  and  both  so 
popular  that  all  wish  that  both  might  be  elected,  and  all  expectant  that 
one  or  the  other  wiU  be ;  and  one  returns  to  you  to-day  around  whom 
the  honors  of  the  old  Bay  State  splash  and  beat  as  its  waves  about  its 
breakers ;  — while 

Each,  with  pride  of  a  Briton,  turns 

To-day,  to  welcome  your  Wallace  and  Burns. 

We  congratulate  you  upon  your  progressive  architecture,  public  and 
private;  your  elegant  Town  House;  your  Monumental  Library;  your 
fine  school  buildings  and  their  products,  and  the  coming  "  Endicott " ; 
your  Lull  Monument  of  to  day  ;  your  well  appointed  and  filled  Churches, 
your  highest  hope ;  your  live,  well-advertised  commercial  men ;  your 
thriving  and  varied  industries,  so  widely  known ;  your  water-works,  a 
monument  to  your  prudence  and  hygienic  care ;  your  military  spirit,  past 
aud  present ;  your  excellent  fire  appointments  and  musical  bestowments  ; 
your  venerable  Press,  which  fourscore  years  so  well  served  us  —  may  its 
shadow  never  be  less ;  your  underlying  granite  foundation,  and  increas- 
ing facilities  for  its  working ;  and  last,  though  far  from  least,  the  cheer- 
ful lighting  of  your  homes  and  ways.  May  the  day  not  be  distant  when 
the  mother  shall  literally  and  rejoicingly  walk  in  the  daughter's  light. 

Amherst-decadence  would  form  an  afternoon's  topic,  —  but  avaunt 
except  its  maternal  lesson  :  Hold  fast,  dear  daughter,  to  your  every  live 
and  sterling  business  man.  Fifty  of  the  bright,  wealthy,  enterprising 
men  who  have  made  Nashua  what  it  is,  were  the  gift  of  Amherst;  and 
her  new,  proudest  church  stands  one-half  upon  an  Amherst  financial 
basis  !     Blessed  they  who  have  to  give  ! 

Amherst  glories  in  her  past,  and  that  she  is  yet  able  to  do  something 
for  her  neighbors  and  the  world. 

What  here  shall  be.  who,  who  can  tell. 
As  dawns  your  next  Centennial  ? 
The  bursting  acorn  of  to-day. 
Shall  be  the  oak  in  sad  decay. 
Not  one,  not  one  of  all  this  throng 
Shall  to  its  celebrants  belong. 
Perhaps  here  city,  proud  and  great, 
Exceeding  all  within  the  State  ; 
With  Courts,  Cathedrals,  and  renown  ; 
Reaching  out  afar  o'er  Amherst  town. 
And  sweeping  north,  and  claiming  e'en 
The  "  Prospect "  where  "The  Grand  "  is  seen  ; 
All  again  one,  and  proudly  one, 
As  ere  the  past  century  was  begun  ; 
With  cars  borne  on  electric  wings  ! 
And  thousand  other  stranger  things  ; 
While  Hub  conductors  ''  all  aboard  "  cry 
"  For  Mont-amherst-ford,  whither  we  fly  !  " 
The  vision's  great ! — but  may  it  not  wait, 
;  And  former  union  reinstate. 


34  MILPORD  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 


HON.  CHARLES  H.   BURNS. 

President  Wallace : — The  Towu  of  Milford  is  fortunate  in  having  a 
favorite  and  distinguished  son,  descended  from  two  of  its  oldest  and 
most  noted  families,  who  needs  no  introduction  to  the  people  of  this 
town,  New  Hampshire's  most  gifted  orator,  Hon.  Charles  H.  Burns, 
who  will  now  deliver  our  centennial  oration. 

Mr.  President,  Ladies  and  Gentlemen: 

The  subject  uppermost  in  our  minds  to-day  is  Milford,  the  spot  of 
earth  where  we  were  bom.  This  multitude,  gathered  from  all  parts  of 
our  common  country,  attest  the  loyalty  of  |her  sons  and  daughters. 
Hither  we  have  come  to  witness  the  opening  of  her  century  plant,  which 
buds  and  blossoms  only  once  in  a  hundred  years.  Hither  we  have 
brought  our  children,  and  children's  children,  that  they  may  see  this 
land,  from  whose  soil  their  ancestors  sprung,  and  hear  the  story  of  that 
stalwart  race,  which  helped  overthrow  dynasties,  and  lay  the  foundation 
of  a  prosperous  town,  a  glorious  state,  and  a  mighty  nation.  With  con- 
scious pride  we  point  to  the  character  of  the  men  and  women  who  first 
planted  the  standards  of  civilization  in  this  fair  and  fertile  valley.  With 
unrestrained  emotion  we  recount  the  achievements  of  their  descendants, 
our  fathers  and  mothers,  in  establishing  beautiful  homes,  in  the  forma- 
tion of  strong  and  rugged  character,  and  in  the  promotion  of  great 
causes,  that  have  done  so  much  for  the  human  race.  With  veneration 
and  reverence,  with  the  warmth  of  earnest  hearts  of  loving  children,  we 
salute  our  venerable  mother,  and  her  spotless  and  noble  record. 

In  the  history  of  an  enterprising  town  like  Milford,  which  is  a  cen" 
tury  old,  the  story  of  much  of  our  national  life  can  be  learned.  In  its 
growth  is  typified  the  advance  of  the  nation.  In  its  mirroi  of  life  the 
struggles,  the  varying  fortunes,  the  triumphs  and  trials  of  the  people  are 
reflected.  A  distinguished  historian  has  observed  that  the  best  way  to 
learn  English  history  is  "to  set  a  man  in  the  streets  of  a  simple  English 
town,  and  to  bid  him  to  work  out  the  history  of  the  men  who  have  lived 
and  died  there.  The  mill  by  the  stream,  the  tolls  in  the  marketrplaces, 
the  brasses  of  its  burghers  in  the  church,  the  names  of  its  streets,  the 
lingering  memory  of  its  guilds,  the  mace  of  its  mayor,  tell  us  more  of 
the  past  of  England  than  the  spire  of  Sarem  or  the  martyrdom  of  Can- 
terbury." 

If  we  would  learn  the  story  of  liberty,  and  of  the  prog^ss  of  human- 
ity in  the  new  world  we  must  enter,  as  in  the  old,  the  streets  and  lanes, 
the  highways  and  byways,  the  parishes,  even  the  old  school  districts  of 
the  old  townships  ;  we  must  study  the  history  of  the  men  who  cut  down 
the  forests,  subdued  the  primitive  soil,  braved  the  savage,  and  beat  their 
way  up  in  the  teeth  of  the  tempest,  for  in  their  hands  was  the  embryo 
of  our  country.  "The  Avon  to  the  Severn  runs,  the  Severn  to  the  sea." 
And  as  the  old  English  town  lifted  the  country  at  large  to  its  own  level 


p 


E>7^  ''byA-H.BxU.r'J^ 


Cyh.^a/^r{jL^  i/Vri Oi 


LUV^n^ 


MtLFORD  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION.  36 

of  freedom  and  law,  so  the  American  towns  have  worked  out  the  great 
problems  of  free  government  in  the  United  States.  They  have  been  the 
birthplaces,  the  nurseries,  the  schools  and  disciplinai-ians  of  the  states- 
men, orators,  heroes  and  philanthropists,  who  have  shaped  the  principles 
and  established  ihe  strength  of  the  governrment.  Every  distinctive 
achievement  of  the  people  from  the  Revolution  to  the  civil  war ;  from 
the  recognition  to  the  abolition  of  human  slavery ;  from  the  union  to  the 
disunion  of  church  and  state,  has  originated  in,  if  it  has  not  been,  em- 
phatically determined  by  the  American  town.  Here  the  great  impulses 
which  have  formed  the  basis  of  national  progress  have  been  inspired  and 
developed.  Neither  the  political  nor  social  history  of  the  American  peo- 
ple can  be  ascertained  or  appreciated  without  knowing  the  tragic  strug- 
gles and  local  triumphs  of  town  and  municipal  life.  The  town  has  been 
the  teacher.     It  is  still  the  steady  regulator  of  the  affairs  of  men. 

This  is  especially  true  of  the  New  England  townships.  They  were, 
as  a  rule,  founded,  and  have  been  developed  by  the  leaders  of  American 
force  and  thought.  Their  management,  being  independent,  is  typical  of 
that  of  the  nation.  Every  department  of  government  is  shown  in  the 
town,  and  it  constitutes  a  miniature  republic. 

The  selectmen  are  the  executive.  Within  the  limits  of  their  prerog- 
atives they  are  a  co-ordinate  branch  of  the  town  government  and  su- 
preme. 

In  the  town  meeting  is  assembled  the  municipal  lawmaking  power. 
It  is  presided  over  by  a  moderator  chosen  by  ballot.  In  the  same  man- 
ner the  majority  elect  its  rulers,  clerk,  treasurer,  selectmen,  and  repre- 
sentatives to  the  general  court.  It  enacts  all  the  necessary  rules  and  or- 
dinances for  local  self-government.  The  inestimable  right  of  debate  no- 
where prevails  with  more  absolute  freedom.  Questions  great  and  small 
are  canvassed  by  oral  discussion  in  open  meeting.  No  credentials  except 
citizenship,  and  no  qualification  except  the  ballot,  are  accessary  to  entitle 
a  person  to  the  floor  upon  any  subject  which  is  before  the  meeting. 
Some  of  the  most  notable  discussions  of  the  Revolution  were  those  in 
the  town  meetings  of  Boston  and  New  England.  Milford's  town  meet, 
ings  have  been  noted  for  intelligent  debate  upon  all  the  topics  of  the  day, 
and  the  voice  of  the  town  has  been  felt  abroad  in  the  land. 

The  wide  range  of  subjects  treated  and  disposed  of  by  the  town  gov- 
ernment, schools,  paupers,  highways,  libraries,  taxation,  finance,  moral 
and  religious  institutions,  health,  drainage,  water  supply,  protection  from 
fire,  transportation,  are  such  as  concern  the  interests,  comfort  and  safety 
of  all  the  people,  and  embrace  almost  every  possible  phase  of  the  gen- 
eral government.  Their  consideration  demands  thought,  deliberation, 
debate,  action,  and  individual  judgment  and  responsibility.  The  princi- 
ples involved,  like  the  magic  tent  in  the  fairy  tale,  may  shelter  a  family, 
or  cover  a  continent.  Nowhere  else  is  the  old  Greek  sentiment  that  "the 
shame  of  the  city  is  the  fault  of  the  individual"  so  clearly  apparent. 
Nowhere  else  does  the  American  citizen  acquire  such  practical  training 
and  equipment  for  participation  in  legislative   affairs  as  in  meetings  of 


36  MILFORD  CENTEJJNIAL  CELEfiRATIOlJ. 

this  sort.  They  have  been  called  with  truth  "  the  elementary  cells  and 
schools  of  public  life."  It  is  also  here  that  the  imperial  power  of  the 
ballot,  the  rule  of  the  majority,  all  the  rights,  privileges  and  appurten- 
ances of  a  pure  democratic  law-making  assembly  are  exercised,  and  with 
the  greatest  freedom  and  most  marked  success. 

Is  it  strange  that  the  intellectual  local  combats  and  individual  res- 
'ponsibilities  have  given  scores  of  men  a  splendid  fit  for  wider  fields? 
Such  experiences  and  mental  training  have  borne  excellent  fruit,  and  con- 
stitute strength  and  power  in  the  nation. 

The  well  regulated  town  has  a  judicial  department  with  all  the  ma- 
chinery necessary  to  run  it.  The  Justice  of  the  Peace  presides  over  pet- 
ty trials  and  is  solenmly  called  "Your  Honor."  His  court  is  kept  in  or- 
der by  a  deputy  sheriff.  He  is  addressed  by  lawyers  generally  of  local 
production  and  logic.  They  are  not  unfrequently  called  to  the  bench, 
or  become  leaders  of  the  bar  of  the  state,  or  important  factors  in  the 
Congress  of  the  nation. 

Thus  in  an  enterprising  and  intelligent  town  is  exemplified  the  whole 
fabric  of  our  government,  and  the  history  of  its  people  for  a  hundred  years 
is  the  history  of  the  temper  and  the  struggle  of  the  people  of  the  nation. 
Each  township  is  a  training  camp  for  public  servants.  Much  of  the  safe- 
ty of  the  American  Republic  lies  in  this  fact.  The  local  government 
teaches  how  to  manage  the  general  government.  Men  will  neither  ap- 
preciate nor  fight  for  a  country  they  do  not  know  how  to  govern. 

The  first  settlers  of  the  territory  and  town  of  Milford  were  good 
men.  They  were  of  the  English  and  Scotch-Irish  races.  In  their  veins 
ran  the  best  blood  of  the  Saxon,  the  Scot  and  the  Celt,  the  Puritans  of 
Salem,  and  the  Pilgrims  of  Plymouth.  For  years  they  were  augmented 
from  time  to  time  with  similar  races,  and  they  constituted  a  strong,  sen- 
sible, industrious,  virtuous  people,  such  as  compose  and  control  the  suc- 
cessful commonwealth.  They  were  farmers  and  mechanics.  They  be- 
lieved in  labor,  law,  and  learning.  Fortunate  indeed  was  this  soil  in 
being  early  owned  and  tilled  by  such  hands.  Its  dedication  to  the  do- 
minion of  free  labor,  free  men  and  free  schools,  to  honest  and  persistent 
toil,  exposed  it  to  christian  civilization  and  improvement,  and  brought 
it  into  harmony  with  a  new  and  glorious  era. 

The  territory  was  selected  and  settled  as  a  town  on  the  New  Eng- 
land plan.  Its  geographical  limits  were  fixed  to  suit  the  inhabitants. 
It  was  granted  from  Massachusetts  and  New  Hampshire.  The  repre- 
sentatives of  its  soil,  before  it  became  a  township,  as  after,  defended  it 
against  both  the  native  Indian  and  the  foreign  white  invader.  They 
fought  at  Bunker  Hill  and  Bennington,  and  helped  throw  overboard  the 
tea  in  Boston  harbor.  In  the  meantime  they  were  laying  the  founda- 
tions of  a  great  republic ;  rearing  families,  building  homes,  churches  and 
schools,  and  helping  along  the  noble  work  of  establishing  a  government 
by  the  people.     In  such  experiences  the  nation  was  born. 

A  part,  and  perhaps  all  of  the  territory  of  Milford  was  once  claim- 
ed by  Massachusetts,  and  received  early  consecration  by  the  grace  of 


MILFORD  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION.  37 

that  noble  commonwealth.  Massachusetts  has  been  said  to  have  led  the 
world  in  common  schools.  In  1659,  it  granted  for  the  benefit  of  schools, 
one  thousand  acres  of  land  lying  along  the  banks  of  the  Souhegan;  a  good 
ly  gift  to  a  righteous  cause.  It  made  other  grants  for  the  same  purpose 
The  spirit  of  these  grants  has  presided  over  the  territory  ever  since 
A  distinguishing  characteristic  of  its  people  has  been  a  deep  and  abiding 
interest  in  educational  matters ;  but  uot  until  it  received  its  charter  from 
the  state  of  New  Hampshire  a  century  ago,  was  much  accomplished  eith- 
er in  the  way  of  schools  or  churches.  Its  sturdy  inhabitants,  down  to 
that  time,  and  even  later,  had  all  they  could  do,  to  defend  their  cabins 
and  get  bread  for  themselves  and  their  families.  Since  then  their  work 
in  behalf  of  education  has  been  one  that  reflects  lasting  honor  upon  the 
citizens  of  Milford.  They  have  followed  the  injunction  of  Solomon : 
"Take  fast  hold  of  instruction,  let  her  not  go,  keep  her,  for  she  is  thy 
life." 

The  common  school,  the  sheet  anchor  of  a  nation,  the  old  district 
school,  which  for  the  practical  and  ordinary  training  of  boys  and  girls, 
for  good  citizenship,  has  never  been  excelled  by  any  institution  on  earth, 
except  the  home,  has  always  been  here  sustained  with  marked  success. 
A  large  majority  of  its  citizens  have  never  received  any  education  except 
that  received  in  the  old  district  school.  It  was  there  that  they  learned 
to  think,  to  reason  and  to  act.  It  was  there  that  they  came  directly  in 
contact  with  the  sturdy  school-master,  who  was  generally  a  practical,  sa- 
gacious and  right-minded  man.  It  was  there  that  they  received  funda- 
mental impressions,  if  they  deserved  them,  that  were  calculated  to  con- 
vince them  that  "the  way  of  the  transgressor  is  hard."  A  history  of  the 
teachers  of  Milford  discloses  a  list  of  brainy,  practical,  and  excellent 
men  and  women,  who  have  done  a  great  work,  in  that  most  useful  ef  all 
human  industries,  the  making  of  character.  They  were  the  "chosen  few, 
the  wise,  the  courtly,  and  the  true."  Who  would  not  rejoice  to  have 
their  children  taught  in  the  district  school  by  such  men  as  Daniel  Russell 
and  John  Ramsdell,  or  by  Gilbert  and  Lydia  Wadleigh  in  the  academy, 
which  gave  a  sort  of  finishiug  touch  to  the  graduates  of  the  common 
schools,  and  has  also  been  of  conspicuous  service  in  the  training  of  the 
boys  and  girls  of  Milford. 

These,  with  the  lyceum,  which,  for  more  than  a  quarter  of  a  century 
was  a  substantial  and  recognized  institution  of  the  town,  and  for  which, 
as  a  public  training  place  for  debate  and  deliberation,  no  eqivalent  has 
ever  been  found,  have  furnished  this  people  with  every  facility  for 
acquiring  sufficient  information  and  mental  discipline  to  enable  them 
to  reap  the  precious  benefits  of  a  useful  and  intelligent  life. 

A  community  thus  disciplined  naturally  demanded  books  and  period- 
icals, and  all  the  equipment  for  the  acquisition  of  a  wider  range  of 
instruction  and  information.  The  public  circulating  library  came,  with 
its  manifold  blessings ;  and  with  it  the  lecture  platform  and  its  attend- 
ant moral  and  intellectual  pleasures.  The  leaders  of  American  thought, 
the  greatest  of  American  orators  and  philanthropists  have  been  heard 


»  lOLFORD  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

from  Milford's  platform — Henry  Ward  Beecher,  Lucy  Stone,  Wendall 
Phillips,  Parker  Pillsbury,  WiUiana  Lloyd  Garrison,  Frederick  Douglass, 
Thotnas  Star  King,  Ralph  Waldo  Emerson,  James  Russell  Lowell,  Theo- 
dore Parker,  Oliver  Wendall  Holmes  and  scores  of  others,  whose  renown 
is  world-wide,  have  thrilled  by  their  eloquence,  aud  instructed  by  their 
learning,  logic  and  philanthropy  the  people  of  this  goodly  town. 

True  to  the  spirit  of  the  Pilgrims,  the  early  settlers,  recognizing 
their  first  and  supreme  allegiance  to  Almighty  God,  built  places  of  public 
worship  alongside  their  homes.  Throughout  all  their  town  history  the 
church  has  been  a  special  object  of  their  care.  The  town  records  dis- 
close with  what  liberality  they  contributed  to  its  upbuilding  and  support. 
They  worked  and  sacrificed  that  the  words  of  the  Saviour,  the  harbinger 
and  hope  of  the  highest  civilization,  might  be  taught  in  their  midst,  and 
possess  the  hearts  of  their  cliildreu.  They  wrought  in  a  great  cause. 
Amply  has  the  church  compensated  its  cost.  Its  influence  for  the  good 
of  men  is  visible  everywhere.  At  times,  in  the  presence  of  great  dan- 
ger, it  may  have  been  weak,  but  it  has  contributed  more  than  a  just 
share  in  making  a  thoughtful,  enterprising,  conscientious,  home-loving 
and  successful  people. 

The  town  was  more  than  fortunate  in  the  selection  of  its  first  perma.- 
nent  pastor,  the  Rev.  Humphrey  Moore.  He  was  a  splendid  man- 
Frugal,  industrious,  a  farmer  and  minister,  a  patriot,  a  gentleman  and  a 
devout  christian.  His  master  spirit  was  a  vital  force  in  this  community 
for  more  than  fifty  years.  The  early  New  England  pastors  were,  for  the 
most  part,  strong  and  grand  characters.  They  were  leaders  among  men. 
Their  sturdy  advice  and  rugged  examples  were  safe^  guides.  They  did 
a  great  work.  Mr.  Moore  was  at  the  head  of  other  strong  religious 
teachers  in  Milford-  Abner  Warner,  a  very  noble  and  eloquent  man, 
left  a  lasting  mark  en  this  community.  H<i  valiantly  espoused  the  cause 
of  freedom,  while  he  held  aloft  the  banner  of  the  cross.  Many  other 
good  ministers  have  wrought  here  manfully,  doing  a  work  which  has  had 
large  influence  in  moulding  the  character  of  the  people. 

The  history  of  the  churches  of  Milford  is  quite  like  those  in  other 
parts  of  New  England.  They  have  figured  prominently  in  shaping  the 
course  of  events,  but  some  of  them  were  early  tainted  with  a  disinclina- 
tion to  grapple  with  great  national  wrongs. 

The  Pilgrims  and  Puritans  who  laid  the  ground-work  of  the  New 
England  churches,  although  a  wonderful  people,  were  not  perfect  or  entire- 
ly consistent.  The  Pilgrims  came  to  the.se  shores,  not  to  found  a  nation, 
nor  to  sever  their  political  ties  with  the  mother  country,  but  that  they 
might  establish  a  church  after  their  own  hearts,  and  worship  God  accord- 
ing to  the  dictates  of  conscience.  This  one  idea  dominated  their  lives. 
The  Puritans  came  "to  found  homes  and  build  a  state."  The  Pilgrims 
were  poor  but  well  informed.  The  Puritans  were  rich  and  educated. 
Both  believed  in  work,  energy  and  enterprise ;  in  the  sacredness  and  the 
enforcement  of  law,  in  schools,  the  home  and  the  church.  They  pro- 
Iflwed  a  belief  in  man,  and  above  all,  in  the  living  Qod.    In  this  sublime 


MILFORD  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION.  39 

faith,  and  with  matchless  thrift  and  moral  integrity,  they  made  New 
England.  They  and  their  descendants  constituted  as  noble  a  com- 
munity, and  maintained  as  pure  a  government  as  has  ever  existed  on 
earth. 

About  the  time  the  Pilgrims  landed  at  Plymouth,  in  Massachusetts, 
there  was  another  company  of  men  who  landed  at  Jamestown,  in  Vir- 
ginia. They  were  speculators  and  traders.  They  called  themselves  cav- 
aliers. They  came  to  this  land  for  no  good  purpose.  They  were  trying 
to  get  something  for  nothing.  They  believed  in  getting  a  living  in  the 
sweat  of  the  faces  of  others,  not  their  own.  Their  ideas  were  antago- 
nistic to  those  of  the  Pilgrims.  They  sowed  a  seed  in  this  country 
which  has  borne  slavery,  discontent  and  civil  war.  The  great  harvest 
is  still  going  on.  This  disastrous  spirit  has  attracted  from  the  old  world 
kindred  elements.  Socialism,  communism,  idleness,  and  thriftless  dis- 
content, are  its  deadly  products. 

But  neither  the  Pilgrims  nor  the  Puritans  who  helped  make  New 
England  and  the  Republic,  with  all  their  love  of  justice  and  freedom, 
as  history  shows,  had  a  just  appreciation  of  the  equality  of  human  rights, 
or  the  education  or  evolution  of  mankind.  They  became,  in  framing  the 
constitution  of  the  Federal  Union,  the  allies  of  slave  traders  and  slave 
owners.  They  helped  place  in  that  great  compact  a  fatal  provision.  It 
was  a  recognition  of  human  slavery. 

Within  fifty  years  after  its  adoption,  there  appeared  in  New  Eng- 
land a  young  man  with  a  great  spirit.  His  name  was  William  Lloyd 
Garrison.  He  boldly  challenged  the  integrity  and  justice  of  that  work. 
He  opened  his  battle  for  freedom  by  saying :  "I  am  in  earnest,  I  will 
not  equivocate,  I  will  not  excuse,  I  will  not  retreat  a  single  inch,  and 
I  will  be  heard."  He  made  the  startling  declaration  that  this  constitu- 
tion was  "a  covenant  with  death  and  an  agreement  with  hell."  He 
published  a  newspaper,  called  the  Liberator.  Its  sublime  motto  was 
"  Our  country  is  the  world,  our  countrymen  are  all  mankind,"  and  it 
demanded  "the  immediate  and  unconditional  emancipation  of  the  slave." 
Garrison  was  its  sole  owner,  its  sole  editor,  its  sole  type-setter,  and  its 
sele  manager.  Its  printing  office  was  a  dark  and  dusty  attic,  but  its  light 
was  as  brilliant  as  that  of  the  diamond  as  it  comes  from  the  hand  and 
genius  of  the  lapidary.  It  was  "  a  most  humble,  unpretentious  little 
sheet  of  four  pages,  about  14x9  inches  in  size,  but  charged  with  the  des- 
tiny of  a  race  of  human  beings  whose  redemption  from  chattel,  brutal 
bondage,  was  one  day  to  shake  to  its  foundations  the  mightiest  republic 
ever  yet  existing  on  the  face  of  the  globe. 

This  paper  found  sympathetic  readers  in  Milford.  It  aroused  the 
conscience  and  stirred  the  souls  of  some  of  its  most  intelligent  citizens. 
They  at  once  formed  an  abolition  society.  Some  of  them,  feeling  that 
the  churches  to  whicli  tliey  belonged,  w<'re  remiss  in  their  duty  to  those 
in  bonds,  severed  their  connection  with  them.  They  were  thenceforward 
come-outers  and  abolitionists.  They  held  regular  meetings  in  the  old 
Ames  hall,  the  Faneuil  Hall  of  the   Souhegan  valley,  afterwards  con- 


40  MILFORD  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

verted  into  a  school-house,  which  was  but  a  continuation  of  its  ancient 
work.  Here  they  met  on  Sabbath  days  and  discussed  and  deliberated 
upon  the  wrongs  perpetuated  by  law  against  their  fellowmen.  Among 
their  number  were  the  Hutchinsons,  natives  of  the  town,  the  most  noted, 
and  the  sweetest  singers  of  their  generation.  Their  songs  for  emanci- 
pation and  temperance,  exerted  a  mighty  influence  in  waking  the  sleep- 
ing conscience  of  the  nation.  The  discussions,  the  glorious  bongs,  and 
the  meetings  of  thb  noble  band  of  men  and  women  were  forcible,  in- 
spiring and  eloquent.  The  work  they  did  far-reaching  and  successful. 
Some  of  them,  like  their  great  leader,  lived  to  see  the  chains  torn  from 
the  slave,  and  the  constitution  of  the  United  States,  purged  of  its  foul 
stain,  enabling  Mr.  Gladstone,  the  noblest  living  statesman  recently  to 
say,  that  it  is  the  greatest  political  instrument  that  ever  came  from  the 
hands  of  men.  If  Milford  is  distinguished  for  anything,  it  is  for  the 
unselfish  and  sublime  work  of  these  splendid  men  and  women,  in  the 
grandest  movement  of  the  country,  for  human  rights. 

This  generation,  which  is  living  in  the  glad  sunshine  of  human  free- 
dom, can  have  but  an  imperfect  idea  of  what  it  required  in  those  days  to 
be  abolitionists.  It  took  intelligence  and  ability,  courage  and  tremendous 
persistency.  They  met  social  ostracism,  slight,  scorn  and  sneers;  but 
they  triumphed.  They  constituted  an  intelligent,  all-powerful,  vital 
force  which  won  in  this  community  and  this  nation.  The  abolitionists 
of  the  North  led  in  a  charge  which  changed  the  tone  of  American  his- 
tory, and  they  have  left  an  imperishable  impress  upon  the  character  of 
their  country. 

In  consequence  of  the  anti-slavery  agitation,  and  the  almost  unani- 
mous attitude  of  the  free  states,  in  opposition  to  the  extension  of  slave 
territory,  the  greatest  civil  war  the  world  has  ever  known  was  inaugu- 
rated by  the  same  destructive  hand,  that  had  been  chiefly  instrumen- 
tal in  defiling  the  fundamental  law  of  the  land.  It  was  a  bold  and 
infamous  assault  by  the  slave  power,  at  the  point  of  the  bayonet,  upon 
the  life  of  the  nation  and  the  rights  of  humanity.  Never  was  an  attack 
of  traitors  more  courageously  met  by  a  nation's  defenders.  The  call  to 
arms  by  Abraham  Lincoln  aroused  and  united  the  patriots  of  the  land. 
It  stirred  to  immediate  action  everywhere  the  lovers  of  liberty  and  law. 

In  Milford,  a  recruiting  office  was  at  once  opened  in  the  town  hall, 
and  forty-eight  men  enrolled  for  their  country's  defence.  There  was  no 
hesitation  and  no  delay.  A  committee  of  some  of  its  leading  citizens 
was  chosen,  who  were  authorized  to  equip  a  company,  pay  all  expenses, 
and  aid  and  support  their  families.  Its  selectmen  were  empowered  to 
borrow  the  sum  of  three  thousand  dollars  for  immediate  use.  This  was 
but  the  beginning  of  a  series  of  generous  and  patriotic  acts  on  the  part 
of  the  town  reaching  to  the  end  of  the  rebellion.  One  hundred  and 
ninetj'-six  of  its  noble  citizens  engaged  in  the  conflict.  They  were  the 
flower  of  its  population.  Sixty  of  these  lost  their  lives  by  the  war,  forty 
of  whom  were  never  brought  home  to  be  buried.    Thirteen  were  slain  in 


MILFORD  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION.  41 

battle.  Their  names  are  in  Milford's  Valhalla,  and  are  embalmed  in 
immortal  fame  with  the  heroes  of  the  Republic. 

But  courage  and  patriotism  are  not  peculiar  to  man.  Courage  is 
graceful  and  dignified,  and  as  woman  excels  in  grace  and  dignity,  shj  is 
full  of  courage  and  self-sacrifice.  "  Woman  is  the  blood  royal  of  life  " 
It  has  been  said  that  wherever  a  human  being  is  suffering,  his  sighs  oi.Il 
a  woman  to  his  side.  The  women  of  Milford  began  patriotic  work  at 
home  before  even  the  sounds  from  the  rebel  cannon  on  Sumter's  walls 
had  died  away.  With  the  instinct,  and  the  intelligence,  native  to  their 
sex,  they  early  saw  that  the  terrible  ordeal  through  which  the  nation 
must  pass,  if  saved,  required  their  active  sympathy  and  co-operation. 
And  the  record  of  what  they  did  for  the  families  of  the  soldiers  at  home ; 
and  what  they  did  for  the  sick  and  dying  on  the  battle-fields  of  the  war, 
are  among  the  most  precious  facts  connected  with  the  history  of  the 
town.  All  honor  to  the  memory  of  the  splendid  work  of  these  noble 
women. 

This  is  but  a  glimpse  of  what  Milford  did  in  the  mighty  conflict. 
Her  work  in  this  behalf  was  not  excelled  by  any  community  of  its  size 
in  New  England. 

In  social  reforms,  in  temperance,  and  in  all  good  and  great  moral 
movements,  the  town  has  long  been  a  shining  light.  In  fraternal  organ- 
izations it  has  done  splendid  work.  Benevolent  Lodge  of  Free  and 
Accepted  Masons,  is  the  oldest  and  most  notable  of  these  institutions. 
Its  history  stretches  along  the  entire  century,  and  its  members  have  been 
and  are  among  its  foremost  citizens.  Its  banners  are  still  waving  and 
its  good  work  still  going  on. 

It  is  not  in  schools  and  churches,  in  moral  agitation,  and  the  strug- 
gle for  freedom  that  Milford's  record  is  alone  resplendent  with  noble 
action.  It  may  be  said  of  these  achievements  that  "time  and  chance 
happeneth  to  them  all."  But  in  those  modest  and  essential  pursuits,  in 
the  every  day  and  practical  affairs  of  life,  in  the  home,  in  agriculture, 
manufactures  and  mining,  trade  and  transportation,  in  men  and  women, 
who  faithfully  perform  the  duties  of  important  and  unpretentious  citi- 
zenship, in  which  a  vast  majority  of  its  people  have  been,  and  are  en- 
gaged, and  which  form  the  groundwork  of  the  Republic,  comprising  its 
active  forces  and  power,  our  retrospect  is  equally  delightful  and  satis- 
factory. 

All  the  way  through  the  mazy  past,  for  a  hundred  years,  unmistak* 
able  evidences  of  a  substantial,  vigorous,  and  industrious  people  are  seen. 
Its  inhabitants  have  been  largely  composed  of  rugged  farmers,  besoiled 
with  honest  labor,  and  graced  with  a  rare  intelligence  ;  of  skillful,  toil- 
worn  craftsmen  and  manufacturers,  equally  enlightened ;  of  bright  and 
enterprising  tradesmen,  successfully  prosecuting  a  necessary  business. 
They  have  been  men  of  forethought,  sagacity  and  industry,  who  have 
grown  strong,  standing  by  hearthstones,  consecrated  by  the  virtues  of 
their  fathers.  These  are  the  men  who  have  made  "  the  wheels  go  round." 
They  have  kept  the  old  township  steadily  growing.     It  would  be  a  pleas- 


42  MILFORD  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

ure  not  within  the  limits  of  this  occasion,  to  call  their  roll  of  honor. 
They  are  the  heroes  of  the  victories  of  Peace  and  Industry. 

Moreover  those  who  have  wrought  here  in  the  so-called  learned  pro- 
fessions, have  made  the  town  their  debtor,  and  contributed  to  the  char- 
acter and  reputation  of  this  people.  Among  them  have  been  men  of 
mark  and  distinction,  Livermore,  Wadleigh,  Lull,  Averill.  Their  names 
are  here  recalled  with  pleasure  and  pride.  It  will  be  time  to  speak  of 
others  of  her  sons  and  citizens,  who  give  high  promise,  wheu  their  work 
is  done. 

It  has  been  said  that  the  old  New  England  home  is  now  chiefly 
known,  not  by  what  it  is,  or  what  it  retains,  but  by  what  it  has  sent 
forth  into  the  world.  And  when  we  look  abroad  and  see  the  sons  and 
daughters  who  have  gone  from  us,  who  are  in  positions  of  trust  and  dig- 
nity, and  are  leaders  among  the  men  and  women  of  the  land,  our  hearts 
swell  with  honest  pride. 

Notwithstanding  Milford  has  always  had  a  good  supply  of  doctors 
and  lawers,  her  citizens  have  lived  to  a  good  old  age,  and  been  fairly 
prosperous.  It  is  quite  evident  the  people  have  refrained  from  taking 
much  of  the  medicine  of  either  class.  Indeed,  the  town  has  had  a 
remarkably  peaceable  career.  It  has  never  had  any  great  law  suit.  It 
has  had  the  usual  agitation  about  the  location  of  school-houses,  and 
town  house,  but  it  has  rarely  indulged  in  the  services  of  the  profession. 
When  the  station  of  the  WUton  Railroad  was  located,  eminent  counsel, 
among  whom  were  Mr.  Atherton,  at  one  time  a  Senator,  and  Mr.  Pierce, 
at  one  time  President  of  the  United  States,  were  employed.  This  was 
an  exception.  The  town  has  always  been  at  peace  with  its  neighbors 
and  all  mankind. 

Of  old-time  customs  and  new-time  foibles ;  the  husking  bees,  the 
finding  of  the  red  ear,  the  apple  parings,  spelling  matches,  blind  man's 
buif,  the  military  trainings,  sham  fights  and  musters.  Sabbath  school 
picnics,  singing  schools,  and  horse  trots,  chasing  the  greased  pig,  catch- 
ing suckers  from  the  old  Fish  Rock,  dancing  in  the  old  Buxton  tavern, 
sliding  down  Daddy  Hay's  hill  with  pretty  girls,  boating  by  moonlight 
on  the  Souhegan,  making  cider,  raising  hops  and  hens,  roller  skating, 
bicycling,  base  ball  crazes,  foot  ball  cranks,  and  duplicate  and  drive  whist 
maniacs,  this  is  no  time  to  speak.  They  aie  all  respectfully  referred  to 
Milford's  Historical  Surveyor. 

There  is  much  in  our  history  that  is  in  common  with  many  other 
New  Hampshire  towns.  The  early  struggles  were  like  those  endured  by 
all  of  the  old  settlements  around  us.  The  hardships  and  difficulties  of 
the  first  white  inhabitants  can  hardly  be  appreciated  now-  Life  was  a 
constant  battle  with  the  earth  and  the  elements.  Fear  and  uncertainty 
were  stimulated  by  menace  and  massacre.  Later,  when  the  town  was 
incorporated,  it  required  strong  arms  and  stout  hearts,  to  extract  from 
our  common  mother  enough  to  susfain  life,  without  social  comforts  or 
educational  or  religious  blessings.  The  genius  of  invention  had  not 
then  supplied  machinery  that  will  act  and  think.    Steam  had  not  been 


MlLPORD  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION.  43 

heard  in  this  valley.  Electricity  had  not  been  employed  in  the  trans- 
mission of  thought  and  power.  Ether,  the  destroyer  of  the  terror  and 
pain  of  the  surgeon's  knife,  was  an  undiscovered  friend  of  humanity. 

But  without  any  of  these  helps,  the  builders  of  Milford  have  pushed 
on,  and  kept  pace  with  the  march  of  events.  They  have  trained  in  the 
army  of  human  progress,  and  have  always  been  abreast  with  the  times. 
The  result  of  this  marvelous  energy  and  enterprise  is  seen  in  one  of  the 
most  intelligent  and  thrifty  communities  to  be  fonnd  anywhere.  Its 
splendid  farms,  thriving  manufactures,  and  newly  developed  quarries  of 
granite,  suflRcient  in  quantity  to  build  a  dozen  Londons,  and  of  such  ex- 
quisite quality  as  to  be  fit  for  the  puaposes  of  art,  are  its  material 
wealth,  while  its  charming  scenery  and  its  beautiful  location ,  give  as- 
surance of  continued  growth  and  prosperity. 

And  can  we  not  felicitate  ourselves,  not  only  that  our  ancestral 
home  is  in  New  Hampshire,  the  good  old  Granite  State,  whose  moun- 
tains almost  touch  the  stars,  and  whose  air  and  water  are  as  pure  as  the 
light  of  heaven,  but  in  New  England,  whose  sons  have  fought  in  every 
"  battle  for  God  and  humanity  "  for  two  hundred  and  seventy-five  years, 
whose  genius  is  guided  by  liberty,  learning  and  law,  and  whose  domain, 
though  rough,  and  rugged,  and  bleak,  is  yet  the  garden  of  the  world. 

The  place  of  our  birth  is  the  beautiful  vision  of  childhood.  The 
old  home,  the  fields,  the  lanes,  the  meadows  and  the  brook,  the  school- 
house  and  the  church,  the  town-house,  the  store-keeper,  the  shoe  maker 
and  the  village  blacksmith,  the  minister,  the  lawyer,  the  school-master 
and  the  old  family  physician,  how  good  and  true  and  noble  they  were. 

We  have  indeed  a  goodly  patrimony.  We  have  inherited  a  good 
name ;  we  must  not  only  transmit  it,  which  is  infinitely  better  than  to 
receive  it,  but,  in  the  language  of  New  England's  greatest  philosopher  • 
"  Let  us  shame  the  fathers  by  superior  virtue  in  the  sons." 

What  is  to  be  the  fate  of  the  coimtry  town  is  a  much  mooted  ques- 
tion. Its  destiny  in  New  England  has  been  the  cause  of  anxiety  on  the 
part  of  those  who  believe  that  in  the  old  country  communities,  which  were 
settled  and  controlled  by  Puritan  and  Pilgrim  influences,  there  has  been 
almost  perfection  in  government.  The  thought,  that  such  grand  old 
towns  are  to  be  drained  and  dwarfed  by  the  enormous  drafts  made  upon 
them  by  great  cities,  is  not  pleasant.  It  is  not  encouraging  to  see  the 
bright  yovmg  people,  in  whose  hands  lie  so  much  power  for  good  and 
growth,  turn  their  backs  upon  the  old  homesteads  and  adorn  other 
scenes.  Landscapes  are  never  quite  perfect,  unless  touched  and  fringed 
with  the  flowers  of  civilization.  They  need  humanity,  the  vigor  of  man 
and  the  grace  of  woman,  to  crown  them.  A  house  without  an  inmate, 
though  artistically  perfert,  a  forest  untrodden  by  man,  although  full  of 
nature's  pictures,  present  few  attractions.  They  must  be  frequented 
by  man,  the  noblest  work  of  God,  to  give  them  life,  and  to  inspire  them 
with  a  vital  interest.  The  old  town  must  be  populated  to  be  either  use- 
ful or  beautiful.  It  -will  be.  The  time  will  come  when  the  tide  wUl  turn 
from  the  city  to  the  country. 


44  MILFORD  CENTENKIAL  CELEBRATIOI^. 

While  youth  is  restless,  under  the  limitations  of  a  retired  neighbor- 
hood, and  desires  more  active  scenes,  there  comes  a  time  in  the  lives 
of  most  jieople,  when  they  long  to  go  back  to  the  old  home  and  rest 
amidst  rural  l>eauties.  Tacitus  found  the  early  English  race  a  nation  of 
farmers,  cultivating  the  soil,  each  for  himself,  "  as  woodside,  plain,  or  fresh 
spring  attracts  him,"  loving  the  country  and  hating  the  city.  The  love 
of  land  in  the  Saxon  breast  is  aa  strong  as  the  love  of  lil)erty.  It  seeks 
dominion  over  the  soil.  Its  danger  lies  in  its  excessive  gratification.  It 
is  disposed  to  grasp  vast  territories  and  to  be  monarch  over  immense 
tracts.  Such  a  disposition  should  be  discouraged.  It  bodes  no  good  to 
the  township.  As  the  size  of  landed  estates  increases,  population  de- 
creases. This  was  true  seventeen  centuries  agO'  in  Britain,  Italy  and 
Gaul.  It  is  equally  true  to-day.  A  thousand  acres,  with  fifty  or  one 
hundi'ed  owners,  is  far  better  for  the  community,  than  the  same  numl)er 
of  acres  with  one  owner.  Small  farms  owned  by  their  occupants,  well 
tilled  ;  beautiful  homes  owned  by  their  occupants,  well  filled ;  a  variety 
of  industries  thriftily  pursued  ;  these,  with  cozy  summer  houses,  dotting 
the  hill-sides  and  their  attendant  churches  and  school  houses,  increase 
the  l>eauty,  the  wealth,  the  population,  and  the  intelligence  of  the  coun- 
try town,  and  contribute  to  the  strength,  the  power  and  safety  of  the 
nation.  A  town,  thus  constituted,  is  a  desirable  place  in  which  to  live. 
It  will  always  be  attractive  and  always  grow.  Burns,  after  he  had  fully 
tested  the  "vain  pomp  and  glory  of  the  world,"  said:  "To  a  man  who 
has  a  home,  however  humble  and  remote,  if  that  home  is,  like  mine,  the 
scene  of  domestic  comfort,  the  bustle  of  Edinburgh  will  soon  be  a  busi- 
ness of  sickening  disgust." 

Moreover,  the  country  town  that  is  reached  by  the  railroad,  the  tele- 
graph and  the  telephone,  and  most  of  them  are,  is  no  longer  i-emote. 
Steam  and  electricity  have  annihilated  time  and  distance,  and  made  com- 
fort and  convenience  cosmopolitan.  The  news  of  the  world  reachas  the 
farmer's  door,  almost  as  soon  as  it  does  the  commercial  centre,  and 
knowledge  is  disseminated  with  marvelous  equality.  The  luxuries  of 
every  clime  are  almost  as  near  the  cottage  of  the  husbandman,  as  the 
palace  of  the  city  banker;  and  the  city  and  the  town  are  moving 
towards  each  other  with  astounding  rapidity. 

And  yet  great  men  flee  to  great  centres  as  whales  to  the  deep  sea. 
After  Plutarch  and  liaphael  discovered  their  ability  they  went  to  Rome 
as  Burns  did  to  Etiinburgh.  Large  cities  have  always  attracted  genius 
and  great  minds,  for  in  them  is  appreciation  and  scoj^e.  Ilerodatuswent 
to  Athens  in  search  of  educated  men  and  an  intelligent  audience. 
Napoleon  went  to  Paris,  Webster  to  Boston.  If  the  motive  were  praise, 
or  gain  or  fame,  it  would  be  strong  and  all-jwwerful. 

But  while  genius  is  apt  to  seek  the  multitude  it  is  frequently  born 
in  solitude.  Goethe  says:  "Talent  is  perfected  in  solitude."  An 
ancient  jUiilosopher  has  said  :  "That  the  first  thing  necessary  for  a  jx^r- 
fectly  happy  man  is  that  he  should  be  born  a  citizen  of  some  famous 
city."    Many  are  not  thus  privileged,  if  it  is  a  privilege.    Cicero,  who  has 


MtLi'ORl)  CENtEI^NtAL  CfeLfefiftAtlON.  4S 


been  doomed  to  an  immortality,  in  this  world,  and  who  was  the  greatest 
of  great  orators,  was  born  far  back  in  the  country,  more  than  seventy 
miles  from  Rome,  afterwards  the  theatre  of  his  matchless  career. 
"Shakespeare,  towering  above  all  the  poets  of  ancient  and  of  modern 
times,  as  fresh  to-day  as  he  was  three  hundred  years  ago,  the  greatest 
miracle  of  intellect  that  perhaps  has  ever  adorned  the  world,"  first  saw 
heaven's  light,  at  an  almost  unknown  spot,  called  Stratford-on-Avon, 
now  world-renowned  as  the  place  of  his  birth.  Cromwell,  who  arrested 
the  power  of  the  House  of  Stuart,  and  changed  the  whole  course  of  Eng- 
lish history,  was  bred  to  peaceful  occupations,  and  lived  for  the  most  part 
in  the  country  until  forty  years  of  age,  but  was  buried  with  regal  pomp 
among  the  ancient  Kings  of  England.  Washington  and  Lincoln,  true 
students  of  nature,  and  noble  sons  of  God,  beginning  life  amidst  rurul 
scenes  and  ending  with  the  adoration  of  their  country.  A  vast  majority 
of  the  men  and  women  who  have  made  our  country,  who  have  fought 
our  battles  and  won  position  and  fame,  have  been  blessed  with  a  child- 
hood in  the  rural  district,  thus  obtaining  natural  force  and  power. 

That  the  mind  and  body  are  more  or  less  affected  by  the  climate, 
atmosphere  and  scenery  that  surround  early  life,  is  an  undoubted  fact ; 
and  while  education  begins  in  the  cradle  and  the  nursery,  it  does  not 
end  in  the  university.  Life  is  a  constant  school.  A  large  majority  of 
active  men  and  women  acquire  their  vigor  of  mind  from  the  unprinted 
literature  to  be  found  in  forest,  sky,  street  and  field,  as  well  as  the  count- 
ing room  and  business.  "Nature  educates,  life  educates,  society  edu- 
cates. Outward  circumstances,  inward  experiences,  and  social  influences, 
make  up  a  large  part  of  human  culture."  The  country  town  and  the 
populous  city  each  possess  special  charms  and  marked  advantages.  The 
one  supplements  the  other.  Both  are  essential  to  the  development  of  a 
great  nation. 

The  history  of  Milf ord,  beginning  but  a  few  years  after  the  United 
States  had  achieved  independence,  covers  a  hundred  years  of  the  most 
marvellous  developments  known  to  man.  Ten  such  decades  the  world 
has  never  before  seen.  A  comparison  between  then  and  now,  reveals  a 
most  startling  revolution  in  opinion,  methods  of  thinking,  and  ways  of 
living.  Such  an  assemblage  of  new  inventions,  such  an  array  of  newly 
discovered  facts,  physical,  moral  and  scientific,  inspire  the  belief  that 
there  is  scarcely  no  end  to  the  possible  accomplishments  of  the  human 
race.  The  imperial  and  majestic  power  of  man  never  was  so  obvious  as 
now.  Never  before  did  human  destiny'give  promise  of  such  splendid 
fruition. 

One  hundred  years  ago !  Who  can  paint  the  wrongs  that  were  then 
tolerated?  Millions  of  manacled  slaves  all  through  the  civilized  world; 
the  tortures  of  the  Press-gang;  the  ghastly  flogging  of  soldiers  and 
sailors ;  men  aud  women  hung  for  stealing  bread  to  defeat  starvation ; 
debtors  incarcerated  in  prison  when  overcome  with  the  weight  of  obli- 
gations innocently  and  honestly  incurred ;  women  executed  as  witches ; 
men  burned  at  the  stake  by  the  command  of  tyrants ;  paupers  sold  at 


46  MILFORD  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

auction  to  the  lowest  bidder;  taxes  mercilessly  imposed,  to  support 
creeds  and  crime. 

What  a  transition  the  century  has  witnessed !  Then  they  relied  on 
the  Eeal  of  the  Parson  to  warm  the  church.  Now  the  warmth  of  the 
church  inspires  tiie  pastor.  Then  they  employed  a  beadle  to  wake  the 
sleeping  cougr^ations;  now  those  who  put  tliem  to  sleep  are  expected 
to  wake  them  again.  Then  they  walked,  carrying  their  shoes  in  their 
hands  mitil  in  sight  of  the  church  door.  Now  they  go  by  steam  and 
electricity,  in  carriages,  cars  and  bicycles.  Then  there  was  heard  oa 
erer^' hand  the  injunction  "he  that  hath  ears  to  hear  let  him  hear." 
Now  the  spirit  of  the  age  says,  "he  that  hath  brains  to  think  let  him 
think."  Mental  indolence,  like  physical,  is  regarded  as  a  criminal  neg- 
lect of  the  most  munificent  opportunities  of  life.  At  the  clubs,  in  the 
taverns,  with  the  newspapers,  the  wits,  the  great  men  of  action,  the  men 
of  art,  literature,  science,  and  learning,  with  those  in  the  so-called  hum- 
bler walks  of  life,  in  the  factory  and  the  mine,  the  schools  and  imiversi- 
ties,  the  churches  and  society,  in  law  and  justice,  morals  and  manners, 
there  has  been  complete,  tliorough  and  radical  improvement.  In  gov- 
ernment itself,  which  is  the  highest  aspiration  of  worldly  struggles,  the 
progress  has  been  marked  and  universaL 

And  the  chief  interest  of  this  glorious  anniversary  is  not  so  much 
the  past  as  the  present.  Not  what  our  fathers  were,  but  what  we  are. 
Not  what  they  did  as  what  we  are  doing.  The  adornments  of  the  occa- 
sion are  not  relics  of  history,  but  the  living  sons  and  daughters  of  MUford, 
its  cultivated  citizens,  its  men  and  women  of  education,  enlightenment 
and  character :  "  here  are  to  be  found  its  true  interest,  its  chief  strength, 
its  real  power."     These  are  the  trophies  of  its  centennial  year. 

This  is  not  our  only  cause  of  congratulation.  We  are  holding  our 
family  reunion,  not  in  a  dilapidated  old  homestead  grown  up  and  dis- 
figured with  briers  and  bushes,  with  the  moss  covered  bucket  that  hangs 
in  the  well,  tumbling  to  pieces,  witli  the  latch-string  broken  or  gone, 
with  open  doors  creaking  on  rusty  hinges,  with  bare  walls  and  empty 
larder,  with  mould  and  decay  everywhere  visible,  but  rather  in  a  com- 
modious and  beautiful  spot,  surrounded  with  every  sign  and  equipment 
of  modern  civilizirtion.  W^e  are  welcomed  to  a  model  town,  with  physi- 
cal comfort  and  spiritual  grace.  Its  picture  to-day  is  one  of  thrift,  enter- 
prise and  beauty.  Its  farms  were  never  greener ;  its  shops  never  more 
attractive;  its  quarries  of  immaculate  granite  never  more  promising!; 
its  printing  press  never  brighter  or  more  active ;  its  schools  and  churches 
never  more  prosperous ;  its  citizeiLs  never  more  enthusiastic  and  intelli- 
gent ;  and  its  charming  homes  never  more  numerous  and  elegant ;  and 
ao,  witli  loyalty  and  filial  reverence  we  say,  "  Let  the  dead  past  bury  its 
dead,"  we  are  for  the  living  present  and  for  Milford  as  she  is  and  will  be. 

"  And  green  forever  be  the  grave*, 

And  bright  the  flowing  sod. 
Where  first  the  child's  glad  spirit  loves 

Its  country  and  its  God." 


MILFORD  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION.  47 


JOHN  W.  HUTCHINSON. 

President  Wallace: — One  of  the  most  remarkable  and  interesting 
productions  of  the  town  was  the  celebrated  Hutchinson  family  of  sing- 
ers, whose  songs  have  delighted  and  instructed  thousands  and  whose 
fame  was  not  confined  to  this  country,  all  of  whom  have  passed  away 
except  one,  John  W.  Hutchinson,  the  sole  survivor  of  the  family,  who 
will  favor  us  with  au  original  song  appropriate  to  the  occasion. 

••home:  ov  my  boyhood." 

"  O,  home  of  my  boyhood,  my  own  native  home, 
I  love  it  the  better  wherever  I  roam." 

COUNTKYMEN,  CITIZENS,   NEIGHBORS   AND   FrIEKDS  : 

We  have  reason  to  congratulate  each  other  that  we  are  privileged, 
under  these  favorable  auspices,  to  assemble  to  celebrate  au  event  like 
this — the  establishment  of  the  municipality,  our  town  government. 

More  than  a  hundred  years  ago,  our  fathers  settled  in  this  beautiful 
valley  of  the  Souhegan,  fertilized  from  the  waters  that  coursed  along 
among  these  surrounding  hills,  by  brooks  and  rivulets  that  are  tributary 
to  our  beloved  stream,  gently  flowing  and  flooding  its  banks,  paying 
tribute  by  enriching  its  meadows  and  plains  and  insuring  temporal  bless- 
ings. 

"  Friends  we  all  loved  dwelt  by  these  banks. 
And  made  their  margins  dear." 

Blessed  associations  and  thrilling  memories  of  every  event  cluster 
about  the  century  just  past.  One  who  for  more  than  three-fourths  of  this 
time  has  personally  taken  cognizance  of  the  eventful  periods,  finds  his 
mind  thrilled  as  memory  presents  to  his  view  the  scenes  so  connected 
with  the  locality.  It  fills  my  soul  with  gratitude,  though  mingled  with 
sadness,  that  I  have  lived  so  much  in  this  eventful  century. 

"  Where  are  the  friends  of  my  youth  ? "  Many  are  lost  in  the 
grave's  unconscious  womb — yet  fond  memory  brings  to  light  the  many 
pleasurable  days  with  our  associates  ;  the  family  circle,  the  common  pub- 
lic school,  so  dear  to  every  Yankee  that  it  makes  him  revolt  at  every 
attempt  to  interrere  with  the  plan  of  our  fathers.  The  church  in  its 
primitive  excellence,  founded  and  established  by  the  common  demand 
of  our  spiritual  and  social  nature,  a  factor  in  our  relations  in  the  body 
politic,  and  of  consolation  under  afiliction,  linking  the  best  of  this  tran- 
sitory existence  to  the  real  and  the  eternal,  where  the  great  majority  re- 
side. "  Forsake  not  the  assembling  of  yourselves  together."  Music,  the 
church's  handmaid,  plays  an  important  part  in  its  perpetuity. 

I  ought  to  say  a  word  in  regard  to  the  building  of  the  Baptist  — 
now  Methodist  —  church.  I  have  been  eti  rapport  with  the  three  gener- 
ations extending  back  more  than  a  century.  Our  ancestors  built  well 
and  conscientiously.  "  Uncle  "  Jesse  —  my  father  —  and  Andrew  Hutch- 
inson, two  brothers,  worked  on  the  building,  with  my  grandfather.  An- 


48  MILFORD  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

drew  Leavitt,  acting  as  master  carpenter.  Grandfather  Leavitt  was  a 
soldier  of  the  Revolution.  He  fought  at  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill,  and 
was  one  of  the  300  who  kept  the  British  at  bay.  Afterward,  he  was 
detailed  to  build  anew  the  waste  places  caused  by  the  burning  of  Charles- 
town.  This  patriot  received  an  honorable  discharge  at  the  end  of  seven 
years  of  conflict  He  earnestly  and  honestly  labored  with  these  two 
brothers,  for  he  could  handle  his  kit  of  tools  like  an  expert,  and  erected 
the  Baptist  Church  —  as  he  had  previously  aided  in  building  the  Con- 
gregational Church  —  later  converted  into  a  hall  for  town  purposes  —  on 
the  hill  just  by  the  north  bank  of  our  stream,  subsequently  removed  to 
its  present  site.  Grandfather  Hutchinson  was  a  member  of  this  church, 
and  served  as  clerk  of  the  society. 

Here  we  were  nurtured  in  the  tenets  of  the  Baptist  persuasion.  For 
years,  our  family  formed  the  principal  part  of  the  choir,  and  here  Grand- 
father Leavitt,  with  father  and  mother,  listened  to  the  first  concert  of 
the  Hutchinson  family  —  tribe  of  Jesse,  thirteen  sons  and  daughters — 
given  in  the  building  they  had  so  recently  helped  to  erect.  Solomon  K. 
Livermore,  Esq.,  a  worthy  citizen,  volunteered  and  gave  a  very  fine  dis- 
course on  music.  The  concert  .was  a  success,  and  compliments  were 
most  profuse. 

It  was  on  the  farm  we  disciplined  our  voices,  and  learned  to  chant 
songs  of  freedom  and  of  praise  to  the  God  of  our  fathers.  We  em- 
braced, as  we  thought,  a  religion  that  welcomed  all  the  race  of  man  to  a 
common  plane  of  brotherhood ;  our  hearts  beat  in  sympathy  for  the 
oppressed  of  all  nations,  and  our  souls  were  fired  with  indignation  by 
the  wrongs  of  four  millions  of  bondmen.  So  we  sang  through  the  land 
in  their  behalf  — 

"  Pity  kind  gentlemen,  friends  of  humanity, 
Cold  is  the  world  to  the  cries  of  God's  poor ; 

Give  us  our  freedom,  ye  friends  of  Christianity, 
Give  us  our  rights,  for  we  ask  nothing  more.** 

As  members  of  the  quartette,  Judson.  John,  Asa  and  Abby,  the  four 
youngest  of  the  family,  we  early  trained  our  voices  to  sing  with  spirit 
and  understanding,  and  soon  moved  the  hearts  of  the  public  and  won 
its  plaudits.  Here  we  commenced  our  original  style  of  concerts,  and 
after  entertaining  the  people  in  the  vicinity,  ventured  to  the  larger  cities, 
Boston  and  elsewhere. 

There  came  to  our  village  in  1843  some  radicals  —  William  Lloyd 
Garrison  and  H.  P.  Rogers,  with  others.  Among  them  were  Parker 
Pillsbury,  Stephen  Foster,  Abby  Kelley  and  Fred  Dougla.ss,  all  laboring 
in  the  cause  of  freedom  to  remove  from  our  escutcheon  the  stains  of 
slavery.  They  held  an  anti-slavery  meeting  in  the  Congregational 
church.  This,  with  similar  meetings,  aroused  attention  and  sympathy 
for  the  down-trodden.  The  sentiments  promulgated  were  in  accord  with 
our  own,  and  so  we  joined  the  army  of  the  Lord,  to  battle  against  the 
mighty.  Most  of  our  townsfolk  enjoyed  the  music,  though  some  would 
deride.  But  we  heeded  not  their  opposition,  for  the  "God  bless  you  " 
that  came  from  a  true  abolitionist  outweighed  and  tipped  the  beam  of 


MTLFORD  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION.  49 

the  scoffer  or  scornful,  so  we  blessed  them  in  return.     All  of  the  reform* 
ers  mentioned  frequently  visited  and  were  entertained  at  our  house. 

It  might  be  profitable,  if  time  would  allow,  to  recite  ihe  names  of 
hundreds  of  men  and  women,  some  few  of  whom  survived  the  wreck  of 
time  and  rounded  out  100  years.  Wc  must  recall  Mrs.  Towne,  whose 
lights  were  not  shadowed  by  cares  and  sorrows.  Still  the  moment  of 
demise  came  and  her  soul  was  wafted  to  the  realms  of  eternal  light.  At 
our  last  call  this  centenarian  held  in  her  embrace  the  new  family  Bible 
just  presented  by  Sister  Abby  and  acknowledged  the  testimonial  in  sweet 
accented  sentences,  after  which  we  sang  :  — 

"  My  sister  I  wish  you  well ; 

When  our  I,ord  calls,  I  trust  we  shall  be  mentioned  in  the  promised  land." 

With  her  "  amen,"  we  breathed  one  more  strain :  — 

"  We  are  almost  home,  to  join  the  Angel  band," 

A  veteran  of  the  Revolution,  Col.  Joshua  Burnham,  resided  near  my 
father's  house.  He  presented  my  brother,  who  bore  his  name,  his  silk 
sash,  which  he  once  wore  on  parade  when  it  was  reviewed  by  General 
Washington.  This  is  cherished  as  an  heirloom.  I  remember  some 
titled  comrades  once  visiting  him  in  his  humble  cot.  They  said  one  was 
of  Washington's  staff.  He  was  an  honored  pensioner,  and  passed  away 
at  the  age  of  95.     His  epitaph  reads  thus  :  — 

"  Soldier  of  the  Revolution,  zealous  in  his  country's  cause. 
Faithful  to  the  Constitution  and  obedient  to  its  laws.'' 

So  the  periods  of  time  have  marked  the  demise  of  the  dear  ones,  the 
memory  of  whose  virtues  will  be  cherished  by  all  succeeding  generations. 
Patriots  who  toiled  and  in  their  country's  cause  bled  nobly,  and  their 
deeds,  as  they  deserve,  received  proud  recompense. 

Some  names  of  our  acquaintances  we  delight  to  mention,  prominent 
among  them  :  The  Peabodys,  Buxtons,  Stimpson,  Pearsons,  Burns,  Aver- 
ill,  Bartlett,  Ramsdell,  Moore,  Crosbys,  Chase,  Mills.  The  several  tribes 
of  Hutchinson,  numbering  at  one  time  more  than  a  hundred  souls,  all 
claiming  kinship  through  somewhat  remote  scions  with  the  family  tree 
of  270  years'  growth  in  America,  were  found  scattered  up  aud  down  in 
the  valleys  and  on  the  hills  on  either  side  of  the  river  Nearly  all  were 
agriculturalists.  With  the  culture  of  cereals  and  vegetables,  we,  with 
most  of  the  farming  communities,  obtained  a  large  revenue  from  hop 
raising.  The  gathering  of  the  crop  was  most  pleasing,  associated  with 
aid  from  the  men  and  women  of  our  neighborhoods,  who  gathered  in 
groups  about  the  hop  boxes,  vieing  with  each  other  in  their  efforts  to  fill 
the  largest  heap  of  the  cleanest  picked  into  the  box.  The  odor  from  the 
hops  was  most  vivifying ;  love  stories  were  told,  or  songs  were  sung, 
while  all  looked  forward  to  the  pay  day.  How  solicitous  were  the  pro- 
prietors as  the  inspector,  Stephen  Peabody,  rode  up  the  lane,  and  cutting 
a  hole  in  the  closely  packed  bag,  took  therefrom  a  handful  of  hops,  and 
brought  it  in  contact  with  his  nose.  Everything  depended  on  the  smell, 
for  first  or  second  would  be  the  grade  according  to  his  whim.     Opinions 


60  MILPORD  CENTENNIAL  CRLEBKATION. 

▼aried,  but  the  ready  cash  that  c&me  in  the  sale  of  the  article  was  judi- 
ciously appropriated  for  the  comfort  of  the  families.  The  wives  some- 
times received  the  long-promised  calico  dress,  and  the  children  some 
•hoes.  Economy  was  a  cardinal  virtue  for  old  and  young  in  those  days, 
for  there  was  au  established  principle  to  pay  one's  debts. 

In  Washingtoniaii  times  we  espoused  the  temperance  reform.  With 
this  great  reform  came  the  giving  up  of  the  hop  culture,  so  we  sang 
"  Plow  up  your  hop«  "  at  a  gr^nd  Convention  held  on  Fourth  of  July. 
Cider  making  was  much  diminished.  It  was  said  one  farmer  iji  South 
Milford  was  so  carried  away  by  the  excitement  that  he  cut  down  all  of 
his  cider  apple  trees.  The  order  of  the  Sons  of  Temperance  was  first 
organized  in  our  hall,  and  Milford,  for  years,  was  the  banner  tem|)erai)ce 
town,  so  acknowledged  by  the  state.  Again,  we  raised  our  voices  agaiust 
this  traffic,  and  the  song  was :  — 

"  King  Alcohol  has  many  forms 

By  which  he  catches  men  ; 

He  is  a  beast  of  many  horns, 

And  ever  thus  has  been." 

There's  rum  and  gin  and  beer  and  wine, 

And  brandy  of  logwood  hue, 

And  these,  with  other  £eads  combined, 

Will  make  any  man  look  blue. 

He  says,  be  merry, 

For  here's  your  cherry. 

And  port  Bnd  sherry. 

And  Tom  and  Jtrry. 

And  spirits  of  every  hue, 

O,  are  not  these  a  fiendish  crew, 

A»  ever  mortal  koew  f 

The  sequel  to  these  excitements  established  sober  homes.  We  held 
many  temperance  meetings  and  concerts,  under  the  auspices  of  the  State 
Temperance  Committee  or  Associations. 

How  proud  we,  a  band  of  fourteen  boys,  were  to  play  our  martial 
music  as  we  marched  at  the  head  of  the  parade  on  training  and  muster 
days,  each  blowing  with  might  his  own  air  into  his  favorite  instrument. 
The  Kings,  Halls,  Turner,  Buxton,  Goes,  French,  were  names  of  some  of 
these  musicians,  members  of  the  band.  I  delight  to  number  with  them 
Major  Phineas  Stimpson,  who  was  tfie  fifer  and  drummer.  His  occupa- 
tion was  as  a  boot  and  shoemaker,  and  he  whistled  and  hummed  at  every 
stitch  he  drew  in  his  shoe.  He  was  a  lover  of  the  art  of  music,  and 
taught  the  rudiments  in  those  early  days  —  a  worthy  citizen.  He  served 
as  undertaker  for  years. 

Mr.  Richardson  directed  the  Baptist  choir  for  a  period,  but  resigned 
in  favor  of  Brother  Joshua,  who  served  as  chorister  for  the  choir  for 
twenty^ve  years.  He  had,  as  co-workers,  his  brothers,  and  so  famous 
was  the  singing  that  the  Congregational  Society  engaged  brother  Judson, 
and  be,  with  Asa  and  myself,  led  the  singing  for  a  season.  Jesse  was 
then  leading  a  choir  in  Lynn. 

How  well  I  remember  the  singing  of  three  ladies  who  aided  us- 
They  were  students  in  the  female  seminary,  coming  from  adjoining 


^^**ton,  Jesse.  Hale.  Edmund. 

DEARBORN  MALE  QUARTETTE. 
Who  sang  "How  dear  to  my  heart  are  the  scenes  of  my  childhood." 
Sons  of  the  late  Dr.  Thomas  Benton  Dearborn  and  Kate  Hutchinson  Dearborn.    Grandsons 
of  the  late  Judson  J.  Hutchinson  of  the  original  "Hutchinson  Family.'' 


MILFORD  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION.  51 

towns,  and  our  hearts  and  soals  were  kindled  with  a  flaine  of  sacred  love, 
and  we  worshiped  at  these  shrines,  and  the  associations  ripened  into 
harmony.  Their  names  were  Sarah  French,  Jane  R.  French  and  Try- 
phenia  Tapper.  Jane  is  still  living  in  Milford.  At  last,  we  unitedly  re- 
solved to  make  propositions  for  engagement,  and  on  Saturday  night, 
each  repaired  to  the  home  of  his  sweetheart,  and  asked  the  question, 
"  Will  you  be  mine  V  "  The  answers  were  to  be  announced  at  our  meet- 
inf»  the  following  day,  but  as  the  course  of  true  love  never  does  run 
smooth,  the  order  was  put  in  abeyance,  and  we  were  obliged  to  abide  on 
probation  :  — 

"  Better,  some  adviser  said, 
To  always  court  and  never  wed." 

Our  family  erected  a  building  near  the  stone  bridge,  opposite  the 
Baptist  Church,  and  dedicated  a  hall,  naming  it  Liberty  Hall.  Here 
meetings  were  held.  Free  discussions  were  permitted.  We  sang  of 
freedom,  as  we  could  not  sing  in  our  old  Baptist  Church.  Some  said  we 
would  wreck  our  prospects  of  fame  and  fortune.  What  cared  we,  as 
long  as  we  were  in  the  way  of  duty  ?  The  very  atmosphere  was  perme- 
ated with  the  pro-slavery  spirit.  It  had  captivated  the  whole  nation 
church,  and  state. 

The  United  States  suffered  from  the  stigna  of  slavery  in  every  nook 
and  corner.  The  anti-slavery  people  were  persecuted,  mobbed,  and 
driven  from  halls  and  churches  where  they  attempted  to  speak.  The 
fugitive  slave  law  was  enacted,  compelling  all  citizens  to  become  watch 
dogs  to  hunt  down  the  runaways  escaping  from  the  tyrant's  grasp  en 
route  towards  the  North  Star  of  freedom. 

We  sang  the  song  dedicated  to  Fred  Douglass  by  brother  Jesse : 

"  I'll  be  free  !    I  '11  be  free !  and  none  shall  confine 

With  fetters  and  bonds  this  free  spirit  of  mine  ! 

From  my  youth  I  have  vowed  in  my  God  to  rely, 

And  despite  the  Oppressor,  gain  freedom  or  die. 

Though  my  back  is  all  torn  by  the  merciless  rod, 

Yet  firm  is  my  trust  in  the  right  arm  of  God, 

In  His  strength  I  '11  go  forth,  and  forever  will  be 

'Mong  the  hills  of  the  North,  where  the  bondmen  are  free." 

We  were  driven  from  the  cities  of  Philadelphia,  St.  Louis,  and 
Washington,  and  threatened  with  mobs  in  New  York  and  Boston.  In 
the  latter  city,  Burns,  the  fugitive,  was  remanded  back  to  slavery.  The 
poor  Whig  party,  by  its  mouthpiece,  Daniel  Webster,  had  fully  suc- 
cumbed to  this  element.  The  South  became  en  rapport  with  the  democ- 
racy, and  the  Free  Soil  Party  was  filling  its  ranks  with  the  best  of  the 
scattered  fragments  of  the  once  proud  though  compromising  Whig  party 
which  at  last  was  reduced  to  the  makeshift  of  such  nominees  as  Bell  and 
Everett,  they  receiving  but  three  thousand  votes  in  the  canvass.  So  we 
sang :  — 

"  Edward  Everett  oped  his  mouth 
For  the  votes  of  the  South, 
But  his  wishy-washy  speech  was  so  rottea 
That  it  struck  to  his  spine 
And  he  took  a  bee-line 
lyodged  in  State  Street,  behind  a  bag  of  cotton." 


52  MILPORD  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

But  Freemont  was  not  elected,  and  time  sped  on.  The  opposition 
and  excitement  were  at  a  white  heat.  Buchanan,  the  president,  was 
bewildered,  and  the  fire  eaters  were  in  danger  of  wrecking  the  ship  of 
state.  Lincoln,  the  Republican  candidate,  was  nominated  amid  the 
storm  of  dissolving  party  strife ;  the  campaign  was  vigorously  prosecuted, 
and  victorj-  crowned  the  efforts  of  the  new  party.  Lincoln  was  inaugu- 
rated, surrounded  by  the  bitterest  of  traitors  who  had  dogged  his  steps 
from  Springfield,  Illinois,  to  the  Capitol — all  the  time  in  danger  of  as- 
sassination, and  only  by  the  timely  announcement  of  the  obligation  rest- 
ing upon  him  to  return  the  fugitives,  was  he  rendered  comparatively 
safe  and  enabled  to  take  the  oath  of  office. 

Then  followed  the  Rebellion  —  four  years  of  war ;  first  to  save  the 
Union,  next  to  emancipate  the  slave.  Milford,  like  all  other  loyal  towns 
and  cities  north  of  Mason  and  Dixon's  line,  was  aroused  to  action,  and 
all,  both  Republicans  and  Democrats,  vied  with  one  another  in  volun- 
teering in  this  glorious  warfare. 

Some  years  previous  to  this,  I  was  discussing  with  my  friend,  Oliver 
Lull,  in  his  office,  the  vexing  question  of  slavery.  He  spoke  in  pacific 
terms  of  the  rights  of  the  South.  I  said  lo  him,  "  I  suppose  in  keeping 
with  your  Democratic  proclivities,  if  war  was  inevitable,  you,  sir,  would 
be  inclined  to  favor  your  Southern  allies,  and  draw  your  sword  in  defence 
of  their  rights  as  against  the  North." 

I  can  never  forget  the  reply,  as,  raising  himself  to  his  full  height 
from  his  seat,  he  answered,  "  No,  never  I  I  would  be  a  volunteer  in  the 
armies  of  the  North,  and  fight  for  Liberty  and  Union."  And  for  thirty 
years  his  widow  has  been  clad  in  the  habiliments  of  mourning  for  a 
brave  husband,  soldier,  and  patriot,  who  sacrificed  his  life  in  defence  of 
his  country.  Col.  Lull's  memory  will  long  be  cherished  for  hb  bravery, 
and  all  who  fought  under  him  will  honor  his  name.  The  lines  of  Bryant, 
written  for  Lincoln,  I  will  dedicate  to  Milford's  noble  son:  — 

"  Thy  task  is  done,  the  bond  are  free, 
We  bear  thee  to  an  honored  grave. 
Whose  proudest  monument  shall  be 
The  broken  fetters  of  the  slave. 

Pure  was  thy  life,  its  bloody  close  '  i 

Hath  placed  thee  with  the  sons  of  light. 

Amid  the  noble  host  of  those 

Who  perished  in  the  cause  of  right." 

To  return  for  a  moment,  to  scenes  in  old  Milford.  In  those  old 
times,  farmers  contracted  with  their  help  during  haying  time  for  a  supply 
of  New  England  rum.  Some  could  hold  more,  some  less.  A  pint  a  day 
was  considered  a  moderate  supply. 

All  surplus  funds  from  the  avails  of  the  Hutchinson's  public  con- 
certs abroad,  we  brougJit  home  to  Milford,  and  they  were  loaned  at 
small  interest  to  our  citizens.  Thus,  many  local  enterprises  were  inaugu- 
rated ;  houses  were  built  on  Hay's  hill  on  funds  borrowed  from  the 
Hutchinsons.  We  purchased  the  old  neglected  store  once  occupied  by 
Abial  Lovejoy.    Ue  kept  a  grocery  and  dry  goods  store,  and  furnished 


^"^r^ 


METHODIST  CHURCH. 
As  it  was  before  it  was  remedelled. 


MILFORD  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION.  63 

cod  fish  and  crackers  and  rum  and  gin  for  the  militia,  which  companies, 
on  training  days,  rendezvoused  in  the  old  hall.  The  building  was  re- 
paired at  an  expense  of  ^,000  for  stores,  tenements,  and  a  new,  capa- 
cious hall  above,  dedicated  on  one  Fourth  of  July  to  freedom. 

I  purchased  of  Dr.  Fuller  this  estate,  on  which  now  stands  our  town 
hall,  the  library,  and  banquet  hall,  the  bank  building,  the  brick  school- 
house,  and  numerous  stores  and  dwellings.  These  lots  were  sold  to  par. 
ties,  and  utilized  as  you  see.  Our  family  were  present,  and  sang  at  the 
laying  at  the  corner  stone  of  the  Town  Hall. 

We  declined  to  retain  funds  obtained  from  the  proceeds  of  local 
concerts,  given  from  time  to  time.  A  considerable  sum  was  realized  from 
one  benefit  entertainment  for  planting  and  protecting  the  trees  now  shad- 
ing the  encircling  public  ground  on  the  square.  Our  venerable  and 
honored  townsman.  Rev.  Mr.  Moore,  set  the  elm  now  standing  in  the 
centre.  He  said  to  me,  "The  sterile  soil  needs  fertilizers.  Will  you 
allow  me  to  take  a  few  wheelbarrow  loads  from  your  field  ?  "  "  Most  cer- 
tainly." We  assisted  him  to  do  what  every  one  ought  to  do,  plant  a  tree. 
His  industrious  habits  were  a  constant  stimilus  to  well  doing.  His 
himior  and  cheerful  sayings  were  the  life  and  spur  of  the  town.  Origi- 
nality was  a  marked  feature  along  his  professional  career,  as  when  he 
"  brushed  in  his  wild  oats  "  at  college.  I  recall  his  mystic  prayer  on  a 
masonic  occasion,  "  We  pray  for  we  know  not  what.  If  it  is  good,  bless 
it ;  if  bad,  cuss  it.  Amen."  Being  a  Congregationalist,  he  could  do  no 
better.  He  was  a  sprinkler.  Immersion  with  him  was  superfluous.  I 
heard  him  pray  thus,  at  a  Baptist  revival.  "One  Lord,  one  faith."  The 
latter  word  was  very  much  suppressed  and  qualified.  He  did  not  wish 
to  offend.  And  he  was  asked  by  brother  Joshua,  concerning  his  health, 
and  answered  in  his  lisping  way:  "I  am  perfectly  thound  above  my 
knees." 

"  It  was  said  of  him,  as  representative,  while  discussing,  at  the  State 
House  at  Concord,  some  question  of  thrift  among  his  constituents,  that 
he  remarked,  "  one  man,  Jesse  Hutchinson,  beside  his  other  products,  is 
making  money  by  raising  boys.  He  built  a  house  for  his  Euclid,  and 
Harriet,  his  wife,  both  comparatively  small  people.  The  question  was 
asked  him,  "  What  are  you  going  to  do  ?  "  He  said  he  was  going  to  raise 
Tom  Thumbs. 

Rev.  Mark  Carpenter,  of  the  Baptist  Church,  was  more  of  a  horse 
jockey  than  Bro.  Moore.  He  would  swap  until  his  steed  would  win  in 
the  race.  He  could  hammer  his  pulpit  when  his  brains  refused  activity. 
He  was  a  lover  of  music,  however,  and  could  teach.  My  brother  Asa 
and  I,  being  denied  the  opportunity  to  attend  the  public  school  in  the 
village,  requested  the  privilege  of  reciting  our  lessons  to  him,  but  horse 
was  on  his  mind,  he  could  not  take  in  the  jacks,  so  we  repaired  to  the 
Lyceum,  and  they  heard  us  gladly. 

One  day,  being  in  the  Unitarian  meeting  in  the  old  Town  Hall,  I 
was  seated  by  Mr.  Livermore  and  daughter.  Seeing  I  had  no  hymn-book 
that  day,  he  brought  me  one  the  following  Simday.    He  handed  me  a 


ftt  MILPORD  CEICTENXIAL  CELEBRATION. 

book,  supposing  it  was  the  very  kind.  The  hymn  was  called.  Opeuing 
the  book,  I  dtsoovered  that  a  mistake  had  been  ntade.  i  had  an  arith- 
wetic,  but  being  satistied  no  evil  was  intended,  1  kept  it  open  and  most 
lustily  sang  on  the  hymns  as  they  were  given  out,  and  no  one  noticed 
any  discrepancy.  In  the  afternoon  he  gave  me  the  real  hymns,  while  he 
biMl  the  tigurea  and  wrestled  with  the  problem.  I  struggled  to  suppress 
»  sjuila  until  meeting  was  done,  when  we  shook  hands,  aps  honors  irere 
equaL    This  proved  a  tie  of  wai'm  friendship  ever  after. 

I  think  I  was  the  first  come-outer  in  New  Hampshire,  having  witb- 
drawn,  for  conscience'  sake,  in  1885,  after  membership  from  the  age  of 
10  to  15. 

Looking  backward  over  the  century  just  rounded  out,  we  realize 
that,  compai-ed  with  any  previous  100  years,  it  has  proved  an  eventful 
period  in  the  march  of  civilization.  The  inventive  genius  of  the  race 
has  beeu  taxed  to  its  utmost.  We  have  had  handed  down  to  usy  as  it 
were  front  some  ethereal  sphere,  the  wonders  of  the  ages.  The  arts  and 
sciences  have  filled  the  land  with  culture,  and  produced  revolutions  in 
numerous  appliances  in  the  mechanical  world,  all  of  which  are  labor  sav- 
ing. >\'hen  adapted  to  the  necessities  of  the  generation,  they  will  prove 
inestimable  blessings  to  the  whole  race  of  man.  We  mention  here  a  few 
of  these  gi-eat  developed  powers  :  Steam,  in  its  multifarious  adi4>tatiofis 
to  mechanics.  In  navigation,  it  makes  the  ocean  a  highway  for  ponder- 
ous vessels,  freighted  with  the  products  of  all  nations.  It  drives  the 
engine  with  its  numerous  trains  loaded  with  its  human  beings  over  the' 
railroad  tracks  of  the  land,  it  "  speeds  the  plow  "  and  sets  the  millioDs 
of  spindles  in  our  factories  in  motion.  It  cooks  our  food,  it  warms  om- 
homas,  and  to  make  all  safe,  it  seems  but  to  utter  this  in  junction, 

"  Harness  me  down  witfa  your  iron  bands, 
Be  sure  of  your  curb  and  rein.'' 

Edison,  Thomson,  and  Houston,  with  their  electric  pllants  controll- 
ing the  most  powerful  element  in  nature,  with  its  "  still  small  voice," 
commands  the  thoroughfares  of  city  and  country — with  its  staff  pointing 
up  toward  heaven,  touching  by  its  revolving  trolley  the  electric  ccH-d,  de- 
manding in  no  uncertain  way  the  mighty  propelling  power,  and  with  its 
neatness  and  purity  displacing  the  animal  kingdom,  whose  over-bnrdened 
draught  has  so  long  taxed  the  sympathies  to  pity.  This  power  tarns 
night  into  day,  and  brightens  our  way,  aiding  the  struggling  moonbeam's 
misty  light  until  the  orb  of  day,  the  eye  of  the  Father  of  light,  eHmi- 
nates  all  darkness.  With  the  advent  of  these  inventions  shall  many 
more  enter  .smiling  at  the  door. 

Bat  social  has  not  kept  pace  with  mechanical  progress.  A  struggle 
is  now  pending.  The  monopolies  of  wealth  have  a.surped  the  inventive 
genius  of  the  people  for  their  own  aggrandizement,  and  humbled  the 
man  to  a  beggarly  attitude.  They  heed  not  the  voice  of  the  populace, 
**  We  starve,  we  die,  O  give  us  bread  "  (  work).  There  mtist  be  something 
wrong. 


BAPTIST  CHURCH. 


MILFORD  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION.  66 

The  wide  door  to  the  arena  of  politics  is  about  to  opea«  and  woman 
is  waiting  to  «tep  in  and  occupy  her  sphere  as  helpmeet  to  lier  l)rotlier 
mau.  Our  uatioual  Congress  is  a  stigma  before  the  world,  a  satire  on 
progress.  Its  members  refuse  the  light  as  men  aloiie  may  do,  for  their 
jd«ed8  are  evil. 

vote;     ITT    RIGHT    .A.LONO. 

Who  votes  for  women  suffrage  now 
Will  add  new  laurels  to  bis  brow. 
His  children's  children,  with  holy  fire 
Will  chant  in  praise  their  patriot  sire. 
No  warrior's  wreath  of  glory  shed 
A  brighter  lustre  o'er  the  head 
Than  he  who  battles  selfish  pride 
And  votes  with  woman  side  by  side. 

This  shall  unfold  his  better  part. 
Delight  his  spirit  and  warm  his  heart ; 
No  jealous  thought  shall  haunt  hie  brain, 
And  Eden's  peace  he  shall  regain. 
For  an  equal  partner  shall  be  his  bride, 
No  holy  joy  shall  be  denied, 
As  equal  rights  their  motto  be 
Tc^ether  journeying  o'er  life's  sea. 

Their  first  great  vote  to  close  shall  be 
These  gilded  haunts  of  infamy  — 
The  poor,  besotted  wretch  shall  know 
That  woman  has  closed  the  gates  of  woe, 
The  light  of  truth  shall  shine  again. 
And  temperance  on  the  earth  shall  reign  ; 
The  night  of  darkness  disappear. 
The  millenial  day  shine  bright  and  clear. 

Then  let  us  all  unite  in  love 
To  emulate  the  hosts  above  ; 
Be  just,  be  brave,  be  good  and  true 
Doing  toothers  as  they'd  to  you. 
Build  high  humanity's  sacred  cause. 
Obeying  conscience  and  its  laws, 
We  reach  at  last  the  ethereal  sphere, 
Know  God,  and  all  his  works  revere. 

It  would  be  a  good  plan  to  send  more  educated  laymen  and  fewer 
lawyers  to  Congress,  or  else  some  industrial  army  will  grasp  the  sceptre, 
and  a  revolution  will  succeed  this  indifference  to  the  cries  of  God's  poor. 

"  Life  is  the  time  to  serve  the  Lord."  This  principle  has  stimulated 
the  action  of  the  Hutchinson  family,  and  as  opportunity  offered,  we  have 
availed  ourselves  of  a  chance  to  work  in  His  vineyard.  At  the  lec- 
ture given  by  Frederic  Douglass  in  Boston  last  month,  I  was  introduced 
to  say  a  few  words  and  to  sing  a  ?ong.  I  begged  the  privilege,  previous 
to  the  singing,  of  introducing  George  Latimase,  once  a  slave,  who  had 
accompanied  me  to  the  platform.  I  said  that  52  years  ago,  I  went  with 
my  brother  Jesse  from  Lynn  to  Boston  to  rescue  this  man.  We  sang,  as 
we  entered  the  chapel  to  meet  the  convention,  "O  liberate  the  bond- 
man." While  discussing  the  plan  of  rescue,  it  was  announced  that  the 
slave  was  free.     Some  friend,  then  unknown,  had  furnished  the  price 


56  MILFORD  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

set  by  the  master,  and  §400  {was  paid  for  his  ransom.  I  said,  "  What 
lack  of  wisdom  in  our  legislators  and  the  community  at  largfe  to  sacrifice 
a  million  of  the  flower  of  the  laud,  and  thousands  of  millions  in  treasure 
when  the  poli  .y  adopted  by  the  mother  country,  to  purchase  all  the 
slaves  and  save  the  agony  of  transformation  might  have  been  adopted. 
This  man  has  been  an  industrious  citizen  for  more  than  half  a  century. 
We  then  sang  ",Over  the  mountain,"  etc. 

With  my  family,  son  Harry,  and  daughter  Viola,  I  sung  to  the  sol- 
diers on  the  Potomac,  and  so  provoked  the  rebel  element  in  the  army  as 
to  cause  our  expulsion.  But  Lincoln  and  his  cabinet  reinstated  us,  and 
Gen.  McClellan  was  asked  to  report  at  Trenton.  The  government  was 
not  in  favor  of  returning  these  contrabands  of  war.  We  had  sung 
Whittier's  great  song,  ••  The  Furnace  Blast" 

At  the  funeral  of  John|  G.  Whittier  I^said  a  few  words,  and  Sister 
Abby  helped  me  to  sing :  — 

"  As  man  may,  be  fought  his  fight. 

Proved  his  truth  by  his  eadeavor  ; 
Let  his  name  in  golden  light 
Livejforever  aud|forever." 

In  behalf  of  all  my  brothers  and|sister8  in  the  Spirit  Land,  I  would 
say,  as  they  would,  be  steadfast  and  ardent ;  help  one  another ;  be  zeal- 
ous in  love's  high  calling  —  "  slow  to  smite  and  swift  to  spare  " ;  labor 
for  the  country's  good. 

Mothers,  sisters,  lovers  I  The  milleuial  day  is  about  to  dawn.  Lay 
aside  the  habiliments  of  mourning  ;||;,the  day  of  rejoicing  is  at  hand. 
You  need  not  apprehend  the  babes  at  your  breasts  will  be  nursed  to  sup- 
ply the  army  of  greed  and  be  slaughtered  to  nourish  averice  All  future 
vexing  questions  of  diplomacy  with  the  nations  of  the  earth  will  be 
adjusted  by  arbitration. 

"  O,  then  will  come  the  glorious  day. 

And  may  it  last  forever, 
When  all  the  nations  of  the  earth 

In  peace  shall  dwell  together." 

I>et  this  be  our  motto  as  we  enter  in  upon  the  second  century  of  our 
municipality:  "The  Fatherhood  of  God  and  brotherhood  of  Man." 


MILFORD  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION.  57 


HON.  Q.  A.  RAHSDELL. 

President  Wallace : — The  first  century  of  the  town  is  replete  with 
important  and  interesting  events,  which  it  is  desirable  should  be  pre- 
served in  historical  form  for  the  use  of  the  future  generations,  and  not 
be  suffered  to  pass  into  oblivion.  The  town  is  fortunate  in  having  a 
distinguished  son  descended  from  two  of  the  noted  families  of  Milford, 
who  has  kindly  iindeitaken  the  task  for  which  he  is  so  well  fitted  by 
education  and  ability,  the  Hon.  George  A.  Ramsdell,  who  will  now  favor 
us  with  some  historical  sketches  of  Milford. 

Mu.  President: 

We  are  celebrating  the  one  hundredth  anniversary  of  the  incorpor- 
ation of  this  town.  But  when  we  think  and  talk  of  its  real  history,  it  is 
fit  and  proper  to  add  half  a  century  and  think  and  talk  of  everything 
which  has  transpired  for  one  hundred  and  fifty  years,  upon  the  soil  which 
today  we  proudly  call  the  town  of  Milford. 

The  first  white  man  to  build  a  human  habitation  within  the  present 
limits  of  the  town  was  Thomas  Nevins.  His  location  was  in  the  south- 
eastern part  of  the  town.  Nothing  remains  to  mark  the  spot  save  evi- 
dences that  a  cellar  once  existed.  The  permanent  settlement  of  the  town 
began  when  William  Peabody  commenced  to  clear  the  farm  on  the  north 
side  of  the  river,  which  as  a  part  of  Amherst  had  been  given  to  his 
father  by  the  State  of  Massachusetts,  on  account  of  the  service  of  his 
grandfather  in  King  Phillips  war,  and  which  remained  in  the  Peabody 
name  more  than  one  hundred  years. 

In  imagination  let  me  roll  back  the  wheels  of  time  one  hundred  and 
fifty  years  and  what  do  we  here  behold.  Peabody  established  on  his 
farm — John  Shepard  with  his  grist  and  saw  mill  erected  on  the  Gilson 
privilege,  given  to  him  by  the  town  of  Amherst,  on  condition  that  he 
build  a  mill,  the  machinery  of  which  was  to  be  dragged  part  of  the  way 
by  hand  through  the  forests — Benj.  Hopkins,  with  his  friend  and  hired 
man  Caleb  Jones,  laying  the  foundations  of  his  bullet  proof  dwelling  a 
little  north  of  the  residence  of  the  late  Luke  Smith,  on  his  magnificent 
farm  of  over  eleven  hundred  acres — John  Burns  hoeing  his  corn  on  the 
Geo.  W.  Duncklee  farm  about  a  mile  and  a  half  from  where  we  stand. 
These  five  men  with  their  families  (excepting  of  course  the  Nevins  set- 
tlement) made  up  the  entire  population  of  our  territory  one  hundred  and 
fifty  years  ago.  It  is  not  certain  that  Hopkins  and  Burns  had  com- 
pleted their  dwellings  so  as  to  be  counted  actual  settlers  in  1744,  but 
they  were  here  a  part  of  the  year  at  least  at  work  upon  the  land. 

These  men  were  followed  by  Nathan  Hutchinson,  who  bought  of 
Hopkins  a  part  of  the  Charlestown  school  farm  and  settled  where  Edwin 
D.  Searles  now  lives — by  Elisha  Town  whose  cabin  was  built  a  little 
northeast  of  the  East  Milford  railroad  station — by  Andrew  Bradford,  who 
settled  upon  the  J.  Fitch  Crosby  place — by  Abner  Hutchinson  whose 


5d  MILFORD  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

home  was  near  the  residence  of  the  late  John  Bartlett  on  the  north  side 
of  the  river — by  Capt  Josiah  Crosby,  who  chose  the  farm  now  owned  by 
his  descendants  on  the  Wilton  road — by  William  Wallace  who  built  upon 
the  hillside,  near  the  residence  of  the  late  David  Hutchinson,  on  jthe  old 
Mont  Vernon  road.  Caleb  Jones,  after  serving  Hopkinsjfor  a  sufficient 
time,  but  less  than  seven  years,  took  his  daughter  Deborah  for  a  wife, 
and  set  up  keeping  house  in  what  was  then  known  as  the  mile  slip. 

The  prasperous  condition  of  things  all  alnsut  us  cannot  be  ac* 
counted  for  without  some  reference  to  the  men  and  women  iwho  made 
the  first  permanent  settlement  in  this  valley.  Of  the  firstjeleven  families 
clearing  the  forests  and  making  the  homes  here,  nine  were  from  Massa- 
chusetts, and  presumably  of  Puritan  stock ;  two  were^romjjthe  London- 
derry colony  and  of  Scotch-Irish  origin,  a  good  mixture  of  blood  for  a 
town,  state  or  nation.  I  am  not  unfamiliar  with  the  histories  of  the  New 
Hampshire  towns,  and  with  confidence  bom  of  careful  study,  I  know  it 
can  truthfully  be  said  that  the  men  who  laid  the  foundations  of  this 
town  were  of  no  common  mould,  and  that  the  names  of  Peabody, 
Shepard,  Jones,  Nathan  Hutchinson,  Bradford,  Town,  Crosby,  Wallace 
and  Abner  Hutchinson,  should  be  pronounced  with  reverence,  notwith- 
standing Jones  was  a  little  eccentric  and  early  in  life  planted  a  cherry 
tree,  had  it  cut  into  boards,  out  of  which  he  made  a  coffin  for  his  own 
burial,  and  kept  it  in  his  dwelling  until  the  time  of  his  decease. 

These  men,  with  wives  who  were  help  meets  indeed,  were  all  settled 
upon  our  soil  before  the  year  1735,  and^were  in  the  [front  ranks  of  the 
founders  of  the  town  of  Milford.  There  were,  in  fact,  but  few  other  in- 
habitants within  our  limits  at  this  early  day.  Of  these  forefathers  it 
can  be  remarked,  that  as  a  whole  they  were  men  of  uncommon  strength 
of  character ;  that  all  had  honorable  careers ;  that,  without  exception, 
they  remained  in  town,  and  were  buried  by  their;,children,  and  I  believe 
without  exception  today  are  honorably  represented  among  the  inhabi- 
tants of  the  town.  I  have  made  search  for  something  like  it,  but  find 
no  instance  where  all  the  [early  settlers  are  so  wellj  represented  after  the 
lapse  of  nearly  a  century  and  a  half. 

Jonathan  Towne,  the'^ancestorjof  Jthe  latejWm.  E.  Towne,  to  whose 
well-directed  zeal  in  historical  matters  and  productive  labor  upon /the 
early  history  of  Milford  familes  we  are  much  indebted,  came  here  in 
1759,  and  was  followed  by  El>enzer  Pearson,  in  1762,  and  long  line  of 
worthy  settlers. 

1  pass  by  all  that  these  men  and  their  children  did  in  the  last  cen- 
tury. You  have  already  heard  how  nobly  Capt.  Josiah  Crosby  and  others 
bore  themselves  at  Bunker  Hill,  how  valiently  Andrew  Bradford's  son, 
Capt.  John,  and  others,  fought  at  Bennington,  and  come  to  the  opening 
of  the  present  centur)'. 

The  year  of  1802  saw  the  settlement  of  Humphrey  Moore,  and  the 
year  1800,  brought  to  town  the  young  lawyer,  Solomon  K.  Livermore. 

They  were  men  of  large  minds  and  warm  hearts,  graduates  of  Har- 
vard College  and  life-long  friends.     I  doubt  not  that  these  men,  during 


MILFORD  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION.  6© 

the  earlier  days  of  their  active  manhood,  had  many  good  and  true  help- 
ers, but  to  us  who  knew  them  well,  they  stand  out  with  commanding 
prominence,  when  we  think  of  the  first  half  of  the  century.  The  town 
had  the  best  they  had  to  give.  They  were  servants  of  the  public,  and 
every  man  their  neighbor.  None  were  too  poor  or  ignorant  to  cross  the 
threshold  of  their  dwellings.  The  impress  of  their  lives  appears  in  many 
another  life,  and  your  streets  and  public  places  continue  to  tell  of  them. 
While  in  the  early  history  of  many  towns  social  distinctions,  founded  on 
the  uneqal  distribution  of  wealth,  have  existed,  and  some  houses  have 
been  counted  too  good  for  common  people  to  enter,  there  was  not  and 
never  has  been  any  of  it  here.  The  only  aristocracy  I  have  ever  heard 
of  in  Milford  has  been  and  is  the  aristocracy  to  which  we  all  aspire  to 
belong — the  aristocracy  of  noble  souls. 

The  fathers  whom  I  have  named  in  connection  with  Stephen  Pea- 
body,  Abiel  Lovejoy  and  Dr.  John  Wallace,  laid  the  foundations  of  the 
Milford  Lyceum  in  1831.  I  refer  much  of  the  past  and  present  intellec- 
tual activity  of  the  town  to  this  most  helpful  institution.  In  it  two  gen- 
erations were  educated.  WhUe  it  issued  no  diplomas  ^every  man  grad- 
uating from  it  took  with  him  something  in  some  respect  better  than  the 
traditional  sheepskin — the  ability  to  think  and  write  and  defend  himself 
"  and  his  cause  "  in  public  speech.  The  town  has  been  fortunate,  not 
only  in  its  men  who  laid  the  foundations ;  the  men  who  guided  affairs 
in  the  earlier  fpart  of  the  century,  but  in  the  men  as  I  remember  them 
from  the  year  1840  to  jthe  close  of  the  Civil  war  (most  of  whom  have 
joined  the  majority  and  can  be  spoken  of  freely),  who  bore  the  burdens 
of  society,  giving  it  the  tone  it  has  had  and  the  character  it  now  bears. 
They  were  men  of  thought  as  well  as  action,  and  I  believe  were  in  large 
measure  intellectually  developed  by^the  village  lyceum.  Without  doubt 
the  business  impetus  which  the  town  took  on  during  these  years  would 
have  come  without  the  lyceum ;  that  manufacturing  under  Geo.  Daniels, 
Hiram  A.  Daniels  and  others  would  have  flourished ;  that  the  business 
zeal  which  Daniel  Putnam  and  Leonard  Chase  possessed,  and  which  was 
such  a  powerful  factor  in  the  development  of  the  towns'  resources  would 
have  shown  itself  without  a  lyceum  and  yet  I  am  persuaded  that  the  posi- 
tion of  the  town  as  a  community  of  commanding  influence  in  the  state ; 
as  the  home  of  many  actors  in  the  temperance  and  anti-slavery  causes 
has  been  attained  very  largely  by  reason  of  the  existence  for  thirty 
consecutive  years  of  the  Milford  Lyceum.  The  Hutchinson  family  of 
singers  afterwards  famous  and  the  givers  of  fame  and  name  to  the  town, 
were  in  part  at  least  brought  out  by  the  lyceum.  All  honor  to  the  old 
lyceum. 

In  smaller  and  less  prosperous  towns  we  walk  about  the  streets  and 
within  ancient  burial  places  where 

"  The  rude  forefathers  of  the  hamlet  deep," 

with  feeling  akin  to  that  experienced  in  visiting  old  and  decayed  coun- 
tries, and  can  hardly  suppress  the  words  " Illumfuit"  for  all  about  us 
are  evidences  that  at  some  former  time  there  was  more  of  thrift,  intelli- 


«0  MILPORD  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

gence,  and  solid  acquisition  than  at  present.  But  in  our  history  it  can 
truthfully  be  said  that  much  as  the  present  is  debtor  to  the  past,  an«l 
much  as  we  revere  the  men  who  laid  the  foundations  of  present  prosper- 
ity, tlieir  descendents  with  new  blood  from  almost  every  quarter  of  the 
compass,  are  proving  themselves  equal  to  the  task  of  making  the  town 
all  that  has  been  hoped  for  and  prophesied  of  it  in  the  pa.st. 

In  closing  his  remarks,  the  historian  is  glad  to  certify  that  he  has 
played  the  part  of  the  inquisitor,  and  finds  that  at  all  times  and  under 
all  circumstances  during  the  century  and  a  half,  in  war  as  well  as  peace, 
Milford  has  honored  all  drafts  made  upon  the  town,  and  that  in  the  exer- 
cise of  the  prophetic  g^ft  which  all  historians  are  allowed  to  call  into 
use,  he  sees  nothing  but  abundant  prosperity  in  store  for  the  good  old 
town. 

HON.  ALBERT  E.  PILLSBURY. 

President  Wallace : — The  Town  of  Milford  has  with  her  to-day,  one 
of  her  sons,  a  descendant  of  one  of  New  Ilanapshire's  best  families,  who 
in  winning  the  highest  distinction  in  the  legal  profession  in  iMassachu- 
setts,  has  reflected  credit  and  honor  on  his  native  town,  and  for  whom 
there  is  always  a  warm  spot  in  her  heart,  the  Hon.  Albert  E.  Pillsbury, 
Ex-Attorney  General  of  Massachusetts,  who  will  now  address  you. 

(  Mr.  Pillsbury's  remarks  are  here  reproduced,  so  far  as  they  can  be, 
from  recollection,  aided  by  noted  made  at  the  time.) 

Mr.  President,  Ladies  and  Gentlemen,  Citizens  and  Natives 
OF  Milford: 

At  this  hour  of  the  afternoon  I  suspect  that  you  will  pay  most 
attention  to  the  voice  of  the  clock,  which  has  just  reminded  us  that  these 
exercises,  with  the  heat  of  the  day,  may  oveilax  your  commendable 
patience,  and  that  the  things  which  are  left  unsaid  may  please  you  best. 
Fortunately  for  us  who  come  after  them,  the  orator  of  the  day  and  the 
town  historian  have  admirably  covered  the  ground  of  the  occasion.  I 
think  of  one  thing,  however,  which  the  orator  and  the  historian  have  not 
said,  though  doubtless  they  have  thought  of  it.  It  must  have  floated 
acrass  their  minds,  as  perhaps  it  has  across  yours,  that  when  the  history 
of  your  second  century  is  written,  we  shall  find  on  one  of  its  earlier  pages, 
something  like  this :  "  It  was  a  happy  and  appropriate  coincidence  that 
New  Hampshire  joined  with  Milford  to  celebrate  her  centennial  year  by 
taking  one  of  her  sons  to  fill  the  office  of  Governor,  while  the  legislature 
chosen  at  the  same  time  elevated  another  to  a  seat  in  the  Senate  of  the 
United  States." 

As  the  parent  town  of  Amherst  is  officially  represented  here,  and 
has  been  heard  from,  it  may  be  in  order  for  a  citizen  of  Massachusetts 
to  say  a  word  in  behalf  of  the  parent  Commonwealth.  If  I  were  not 
here  as  a  son  of  Milford,  but  as  a  Maasachusetts  man,  1  should  say  that 
Milford  is  only  a  part  of  Massachusetts  gone  astray.     The  earliest  juris- 


HON.  AI,BERT  E;.  PILLSBURY, 


MILFORD  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION.  61 

diction  exercised  over  this  territory  was  by  Massachusetts.  The  earliest 
land  grants  here  were  made  by  Massachusetts.  And  while  the  people  of 
New  Hampshire  have  a  notion  that  the  order  of  snuffy  old  George  II  in 
1740  fixed  and  settled  the  southern  boundary  of  the  state  over  yonder 
where  it  now  is,  that  boundary  has  always  been  the  subject  of  much 
dispute,  and  I  warn  his  Excellency,  the  Governor,  that  Massachusetts  still 
has  a  covetous  eye  on  the  southern  part  of  his  province.  I  have  heard 
of  an  old  woman  who  lived  near  the  southerly  line  of  North  Carolina, 
who  objected  loudly  to  a  proposed  scheme  to  annex  her  strip  of  territory 
to  South  Carolina,  on  the  ground  that  she  had  always  heard  that  South 
Carolina  was  a  very  unhealthy  state.  If  it  should  turn  out  by  some 
new  correction  of  the  surveyor's  lines  that  Milford  really  belongs  in 
Massachusetts,  I  can  assure  you  of  a  hospitable  reception  into  that  Com- 
monwealth, and  that  its  climate  is  salubrious.  And  in  view  of  this  pos- 
sibility I  congratulate  my  friend  Ramsdell  that  he  is  running  for  gov- 
ernor now.  I  have  some  reasons  to  believe  that  New  Hampshire  is  a 
better  state  for  that  purpose  than  Massachusetts,  at  least  for  a  New 
Hampshire  man. 

If  I  should  indulge  in  the  reminiscences  which  the  day  naturally 
suggests,  I  fear  this  audience  wovdd  be  as  far  away  before  I  finished,  as 
my  memory  is  at  this  moment.  The  orator  of  the  day  has  made  a  just 
and  appropriate  reference  to  the  old  brick  school-house  ;  but  I  must  re- 
mind him  that  another  generation  has  passed  across  this  stage  since  his 
time.  I  cannot  forbear  to  say  a  word  of  the  Milford  High  School,  one 
of  the  earliest  and  one  of  the  best  in  New  Hampshire.  In  that  school 
we  were  taught  that  most  valuable  lesson,  which  we  have  had  occasion  to 
apply  every  day  of  our  lives, — ^to  find  out  the  reason  of  things.  We 
were  taught  not  only  facts,  but  the  meaning  and  significance  of  the  facts. 
I  am  glad  of  this  opportvmity  to  acknowledge  my  own  obligation  to  a 
teacher  who  understood  that  the  end  of  education  is  not  to  cram  the 
youthful  mind  with  a  mass  of  information  of  which  half  is  misunder- 
stood and  the  other  half  likely  to  be  forgotten,  but  to  awaken  and  train 
it  to  the  right  use  of  its  own  powers. 

It  would  have  given  me  pleasure  to  say  something  of  my  early  recol- 
lections of  this  Town,  and  of  the  men  who  built  it  up  and  established 
its  character,  and  especially  to  speak  of  the  Milford  abolitionists,  the 
men  and  women  who  made  the  heroic  chapter  in  the  history  of  this 
Town ;  but  they  have  already  been  fitly  and  eloquently  eulogized.  I 
must  pass  by  these  and  other  topics,  to  say  something  which  may  be  of 
more  practical  consequence,  which  has  been  suggested  to  me  by  a  very 
recent  occurrence  in  this  hall. 

Among  the  changes  which  time  has  worked  in  this  quiet  country 
village,  none  is  more  striking  than  the  change  in  the  people  themselves. 
There  are  new  men  here  now,  and  new  races.  I  remember  the  time 
when  a  foreigner  was  almost  a  curiosity  in  the  streets,  where  now  three 
languages  are  familiarly  spoken  every  day.  Among  this  people  there  are 
differences  of  opinion  and  of  belief  on  many  subjects.    But  there  must 


62  MTLFORD  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

be  one  rule  and  one  law  for  all  who  live  in  this  oommuuity.  The  rights 
and  privileges  of  all  are  to  be  equally  respected.  There  must  be  uo  iier- 
secution  for  the  sake  of  opinion,  and  no  interference  with  the  free  ex- 
pre.s8ion  of  opinion  within  the  hounds  of  the  law.  On  the  very  eve  of 
tliLs  celebration  I  read  in  the  public  prints,  with  shame  and  indignation, 
that  a  speaker,  addressing  a  public  meeting,  wius  pelted  and  driven  from 
this  hall.  I  know  and  care  but  little  who  or  what  he  was.  He  may  be 
a  fanatic.  He  may  have  been  indiscreet.  To  some  he  may  have  been 
offensive.  But  he  had  a  right  to  be  heard  by  those  who  chose  to  hear 
him.  In  this  town,  where  my  parents  and  family  have  been  known  for 
nearly  half  a  century,  I  do  not  think  I  shall  be  suspected  of  bigotry,  or 
of  any  race  of  religious  prejudice,  but  to  make  the  matter  clear,  let  me 
say  that  I  jhold  all  good  citizens  of  whatever  race  or  faith  in  equal 
esteem.  I  have  not  a  particle  of  sympathy  or  respect  for  this  unwise, 
un-American  and  unchristian  crusade  of  one  sect  or  church  against 
another.  Your  fellow-citizens  of  foreign  birth  who  have  come  and  cast 
their  lot  with  you  are  welcome,  and  will  always  be  welcome.  They  have 
helj^d  to  build  up  this  Town ;  they  share  its  burdens  and  its  fortunes. 
But  one  thing  must  be  understood.  They  must  obey  its  laws.  This 
country,  and  this  Town,  are  not  for  Catholic  or  Protestant.  They  are 
for  law-abiding  American  citizens,  without  distinction  of  origin  or 
belief.  Whatever  is  done  here  must  be  done  decently,  and  in  order.  It 
has  been  the  pride  and  boast  of  the  people  of  Milford  for  a  hundred 
years,  that  in  this  place  liberty  of  conscience,  and  the  free  expression 
of  opinion  have  been  maintained  against  all  odds.  Have  the  old  times 
gone  with  the  old  men,  and  is  the  public  platform  in  Milford  no  longer 
free  V  If  so,  this  is  an  empty  celebration,  and  the  American  flag,  with 
which  you  have  hung  your  walls,  has  no  place  in  it.  If  I  were  a  citizen 
of  Milford — aiid  as  a  son  of  Milford  I  hold  an  interest  in  her  good 
name — sooner  than  have  it  published  to  the  world  that  Milford  can  be 
terrorized  by  a  mob,  or  that  a  public  meeting  cannot  be  peaceably  held 
here  for  the  expression  of  any  decent  opinions  on  any  subject,  I  would 
see  the  banks  of  the  Souhegan  laid  as  waste  and  barren  as  before  they 
were  trodden  by  the  foot  of  man.  I  know  there  are  here  still  honest, 
self-respecting,  and  law-abiding  citizens  of  Irish  birth  or  descent.  Some 
of  them  are  my  personal  friends.  They  should  be  first  to  rebuke  this 
outrage,  and  first  and  last  to  see  that  the  like  never  happens  again  in 
this  town.  I  would  that  every  Irishman  in  Milford  were  within  sound 
of  my  voice,  that  I  might  say  to  him,  —  Have  you  forgotton  your 
brothers,  the  brave  and  patriotic  Irishmen  whose  names  are  written  on 
yonder  memorial  tablets?  Have  you  forgotten  that  they  gave  their 
blood  and  their  lives  for  their  maintenance  of  law  and  order  in  New 
Hriupshire,  no  less  than  in  Virginia  or  South  Carolina?  And  do  you 
forget  that  by  overturniiig  the  law,  or  suffering  it  to  be  overturned,  in 
tJiis  town,  you  outrage  their  memory  and  trample  on  the  very  principles 
for  which  they  fell?  Away  with  this  petty  jealousy  of  creeds.  There 
is  uofplace  for  it  beneath  that  flag.     Away,  too,  with  the  thought  that 


•Xt  1    rltt^ 

J^. 

tr 

tW' 

Wk. 

w^^ 

^^^^B 

PL 

,^2^ 

^ 

^ ' 

\r^~ 

ti>^ 

u\*  _ 

r^ 

MILFORD  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION.  63 

violence  at  the  hands  of  jthe  mob  can  be  suifered  to  disturb  the  peace  of 
this  New  Hampshire  town.  We  are  one  people,  sharing  one  conmion 
lot,  subject  to^oue  rule,  and  that  the  rule  of  liberty  and  order  ;  and  all 
good  citizens,  of  all  races  and  all  faiths,  must  and  will  stand  together  to 
maintain  and  defend  it. 

I  have  said  this  because  these  things  are  of  vital  importance  to  the 
future  of  this  town.  At  one  hundred  years  Milford  is  in  vigorous 
youth,  with  her  history  but  just  begun.  It  is  for  you  to  make  it  as  you 
would  have  it,  and  first  of  all  it  is  for  you  to  preserve  her  good  name. 
It  is  the  best  legacy  of  the  past  century.  That  jMilford  will  prosper 
there  is  no  one  here  who  doubts.  That  procession  of  the  trades  and  in- 
dustries which  we  saw  and  admired  this  morning  will  move,  and  grow 
as  it  moves.  You  have  found  a  new  source  of  prosperity,  greater  per- 
haps than  all  the  rest.  To-day,  the  stubborn  granite  of  these  hills, 
which  yield  no  crop  to  the  farmer,  is  turning  into  gold  under  the  blows 
of  the  quarrymen.  You  will  become  populous.  You  will  gi-ow  rich. 
You  may  expand  into  a  city.  But  there  is  more  than  this  to  be  looked 
for  and  worked  for.  Good  towns  are  made  only  of  good  men.  The  in- 
fluence and  example  of  one  public-spirited  citizen  will  do  more  for  a 
community  than  the  wealth  of  a  dozen  sordid  or  indiiferent  men.  A 
hundred  years  hence,  when  this  anniversary  returns  the  most  interesting 
question  about  you  will  be,  not  how  many  factories  you  built,  or  how 
much  trade'jou  carried  on,  but,  what  manner  of'.mon  and, women  were 
these  people  of  Milford?  How  did  they  live,  and  think  and  feel?  What 
did  they  do  for  good  morals,  good  government,  public  intelligence,  social 
progress,  the  elevation  of:their  comnmnity  abovejthe  level  of  mere  com- 
mercial enterprise?  Fortunate,  indeed,  if  it  may  then  be  written  of  you, 
and  of  those  who  are^to  follow  you :  "  They  were  enterprising,  courag- 
eous, and  successful.  They  built  and'^traded  and  prospered.  But  in 
their  prosperity  they  never  forgot  that- their jbest  inheritance  was  a  good 
name.  They  never  forgot  that  the  most'precious  possession  of  towns,  as 
of  men,  is  not  the  riches  thatj  perish,  but  thei|Chavacter  that  endures. 
They  held  fast  to  the  sober  Saxon  virtues  of  mdustry,  thrift,  temperance, 
order,  respect  for  rights,''obedience  to'law.  They  maintained  freedom  of 
opinion,  and  liberty  of  speech.  They  kept  the  precepts  of  religion,  each 
according  to  his  own  belief,  not  only  in  their  churches,  but  in  their  lives. 
They  upheld  the  ancient  reputation  of  Milford  for  intelligence,  virtue 
and  public  spirit,  and  made  this  town  a  place  m  which  good  men  and 
women  could  grow  up,  live  happy  and  die  content,  a  centre  of  good  in- 
fluences, an  example  to  other  communities,  an  anchor  of  the  state." 


HON.  RODNEY  M.  STIHRSON. 

President  Wallace: — One  of  the  sons  of  Milford  descended  from 
one  of  her  oldest  families,  has  wandered  far  away  to  the  State  of  Ohio, 
where  his  useful  and  honorable  life  reflects  credit  upon  himself  and  his 


M  MILFORD  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

native  town,  which  he  has  not  forgotten  after  these  long  years  of  ab- 
sence, but  has  returned  to  pay  a  grateful  tribute  to  her  on  this  occasion. 
The  Hon.  R.  M.  Stimpson,  of  Marietta,  Ohio,  will  now  address  you,  giv- 
ing you  some  of  his  reminiscences  of  the  town. 

Ladiks  and  Gentlemen  : 

If  I  had  a  prepared  address,  which  I  have  not,  I  should  not  want  to 
deliver  it  now,  after  you  have  been  sitting  here  nearly  three  hours.  Nor 
will  I  uncork  the  bottle  of  reminiscences,  for  then  if  you  would  stay, 
you  would  be  here  three  hours  longer, 

I  wish  to  emphasize  the  suggestion  of  Mr.  Ramsdell,  a  few  minutes 
ago,  to  name  this  square  in  front  of  us,  "  Crosby  Square."  There  is  a 
fitness  in  it. 

Also,  I  wish  to  emphasize  the  remarks  of  Mr.  Pillsbury,  in  relation 
to  the  mob  spirit  showing  in  this  hall  last  Friday  night.  There  are  dan- 
gerous classes  in  this  country,  chiefly  foreign-born,  who  must  obey  the 
laws ;  and  with  this  there  must  be  free  speech,  surely  in  Milford,  where 
it  is  a  sacred  right  by  all  the  traditions  of  the  town. 

Gratifying  it  is  to  me  to  meet  here  the  people  of  Milford,  a  name  so 
highly  prized  by  me  that  my  son  was  christened  "  Milford."  Here  I 
was  bom,  nearly  seventy-two  years  ago,  on  the  spot  where  now  stands 
the  old  Town  Hall,  a  few  rods  to  the  north  of  this.  Around,  and  close 
by  this  Squai-e,  were  the  days  of  my  childhood.  Here  were  passed  in 
pleasantness  the  days  of  my  youth.  Here  I  played  ball,  trundled  the 
hoop,  swam  and  skated,  and  went  to  school.  Here  were  centered  my 
hopes  and  aspirations  as  a  young  man.  From  the  north  to  the  south, 
and  from  the  east  to  the  west  linas  of  the  town,  I  rambled  over  the  hills 
and  the  valleys  and  the  winding  streams,  and  through  the  road?,  the 
lanes  and  the  by-paths.  And  to-day,  as  at  whatever  distance,  and 
through  the  years  agone,  every  spot,  as  it  were,  is  clearly  photographed 
on  my  mind.  In  1840  I  could  call  hy  name  every  one  of  the  three  hun- 
dred and  forty-eight  voters  in  MUford.  Now  but  eight  of  these  are  still 
living  here :  Granville  Turner,  James  M.  Bums, — over  to  my  right,  who 
was  a  friend  of  mine  when  I  needed  friends.  I  had  other  friends  here, 
Daniel  Russell,  Rev.  Dr.  Humphrey  Moore,  Solomon  Kidder  Livermore, 
Charles  R.  Wallace.  The  others  of  the  voters  of  1840,  now  living  here, 
are  John  Lovejoy,  Wm.  G.  D.  Burt,  Abel  C.  Crosby,  Edmund  P.  Hutch- 
inson, William  Jones  and  Beniamin  F.  Hutchinson, — who  just  now  was 
sitting  here  on  the  stage.  Here,  a  half  century  ago,  I  cast  my  first  vote. 
Left  Milford  in  1845  to  become  a  citizen  of  Onio. 

Two  points  only  I  will  now  mention. 

First,  The  exceedingly  beautiful  topography  of  Milford.  Take  down 
five  and  a  half  miles  from  Dram  Cup  Hill,  so-called  by  Jonathan  Dan- 
forth,  a  surveyor  in  1670,  when  he  established  the  northwest  corner  of  the 
old  town  of  Dupstable ;  from  this  hill,  near  Jones'  Corner,  to  the  little 
brook,  some  two  miles  below  here,  where  Jacob  T.  Fuller  used  to  live ; 
and  then  take  in  the  sweep  up  to  the  hills  of  Mont  Vernon  and  Lynde- 
borough,  and  across  the  valley  to  Federal  Hill,  and  the  Bums'  Hill  on 


c 


.M  1^ 


HON.  JOHN  MCLANK. 


MILFORD  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION.  65 

the  south,  and  if  there  is  a  more  lovely  spot  anywhere,  I  have  never  seen 
it, —  charming,  enchanting.  In  the  midst  of  this  beauty,  is  a  village, 
with  its  winding  siver  joined  in  the  centre  by  the  brook,  with  its  delight- 
ful streets,  all  form  a  picture  of  loveliness  nowhere  else  known  to  me. 

Second,  The  high  character  of  the  people  of  Milf ord.  In  1840  —  I 
speak  by  recollection, — of  the  three  hundred  and  forty-eight  voters, 
there  were  forty  Hutchinsons,  eleven  Lovejoys,  eleven  Guttersons,  eleven 
Burnses,  nine  Crosbys  and  eight  Clarks, —  more  than  one-quarter  of  the 
whole.  This  was  a  first-class  stock,  industrious,  honest,  intelligent,  char- 
acteristics which  have  extended  down  to  this  day  through  all  the  gener- 
ations from  the  first  settlement,  permeating  all  the  people  of  Milf  ord 
natives  and  adopted,  and  will  soon  extend  down  throiigh  time.  When  I 
was  a  boy  and  a  young  man  in  Milford,  I  never  knew  one  of  anywhere 
near  my  own  age  to  touch  intoxicating  liquors,  and  to  hear  one  of  them 
swear  was  very  infrequent.  Theft  and  personal  assaults,  misdemeanors 
and  crimes,  were  almost  wholly  unknown  in  Milford.  It  is  a  place  to 
be  proud  of,  in  its  past  and  its  present,  and  wherever  on  earth  you  find  a 
son  of  the  town,  you  find  one  enthusiastic  for  Milford. 

HON.  JOHN  HcLANE. 

President  Wallace  : —  There  is  present  here  one  of  Milford's  adopted 
sons,  who,  although  he  had  not  the  good  fortune  to  be  born  in  Milford, 
had  the  good  sense  to  select  this  place  for  his  home,  one  whom  Milford 
delights  to  honor  and  have  represent  her  in  the  legislature,  the  Hon. 
John  McLane,  President  of  the  New  Hampshire  Senate,  who  wUl  now 
address  you.  Our  Scotch  ancestors,  we  will  sing  their  songs  and  remem- 
ber their  virtues. 

Mr.  President,  Ladies  and  Gentlemen  : 

I  desire  to  make  my  grateful  acknowledgement  for  the  privilege  of 
addressing  you  oq  this  interesting  anniversary. 

The  spirit  of  the  past  is  upon  us  to-day ;  reminiscence  and  retro- 
spect rule  the  hour  and  the  occasion.  Your  presence  in  such  large  num- 
bers, indicates  that  you  appreciate  the  great  honor  which  attaches  to  any 
man  or  woman  who  can  claim  the  good  old  town  of  Milford  for  a  birth- 
place. A  beautiful  town  with  an  honorable  history.  I  cannot  claim  this 
town  as  the  place  of  my  birth,  but  for  a  quarter  of  a  century  it  has  been 
my  home.  One  of  your  daughters  honored  me  by  becoming  my  wife' 
and  here  my  children  have  been  born.  My  attachment  to  this  place 
could  not  be  stronger,  and  my  love  for  this  people  is  as  deep  and  lasting 
as  life  itself.  And  yet  I  cannot  forget  that  where  I  first  saw  the  light 
many  of  your  ancestors  were  bom,  and  the  Scotch  blood  that  flows  in 
my  veins  is  still  traceable  in  yours. 

For  this  reason,  the  few  moments  of  your  time  which  has  been  as- 
signed to  me,  will  be  spent  in  some  reflections  on  what  the  people  of 
New  Hampshire  and  New  England  owe  to  Scotland  and  the  Scotch. 


f 


66  MILFORD  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

First  to  be  considered,  and  of  the  most  vital  importance,  is  the 
character  of  the  early  settlers  which  Scotland  sent  to  people  these  shores. 
They  were  strong  and  rugged  in  health,  inured  to  hardships  from  their 
birth,  prone  to  industry,  and  cultivators  of  the  moral  virtues.  Their 
great  national  characteristics  which  is  manifested  in  all  conditions  of  life 
is,  and  always  has  been,  love  of  God  and  human  liberty.  These  funda- 
mental principles  of  life  are  taught  by  the  songs  they  sing  in  the  High- 
land hut,  and  from  the  lips  of  the  preacher  in  the  lowland  kirk.  The 
world  pays  true  homage  to  Scottish  bards,  for  his  songs  are  the  songs  of 
all  people  in  all  climes  where  home  is  held  sacred,  and  friends  most  dear. 
From  such  a  people  came  John  Knox  and  the  great  reformation,  and  the 
fires  of  religious  liberty  and  toleration  enkindled  by  John  Knox  and  his 
faithful  followers  will  continue  to  burn  brighter  and  brighter  as  long  as 
man  shall  exist  with  a  brain  to  think  or  a  heart  to  feel.  Scotland  fur- 
nished New  England  with  her  common  school  system  without  which  an 
enlightened  people  and  a  free  government  would  be  impossible.  The 
school  house  is  the  rock  on  which  is  founded  our  security  for  the  present, 
and  our  hopes  for  the  future;  by  it  come  honor  and  prosperity,  and 
through  it  we  may  look  forward  to  a  more  perfect  and  higher  civilization, 
greater  progress  in  the  arts  and  sciences,  and  governed  by  moral  princi- 
ples, a  more  lofty  ideal  of  American  citizenship. 

The  military  spirit  and  love  for  home  and  country  shown  by  the 
Scotch  people  has  been  demonstrated  on  countless  occasions.  About  the 
first  we  hear  of  the  Scotch  is  in  Roman  history,  where  we  learn  that 
after  the  Roman  legions  had  overrun  Europe  they  invaded  Britain,  sub- 
dued the  people,  and  held  them  subject  to  imperial  Rome  for  four  hun- 
dred years,  but  the  whole  Roman  army  could  not  conquer  Scotland,  and 
no  other  nation  has  since  had  better  success. 

From  such  a  race  came  the  pride  of  New  Hamshire,  the  brave  Gen- 
eral Stark,  who  commanded  the  troops  from  New  Hampshire  at  the  bat- 
tle of  Bunker  Hill,  and  it  was  his  countrymen  who  thrice  that  day  re- 
pulsed the  British  at  Pebbly  Beach  on  the  Mystic.  The  battle  of  Bunker 
Hill  was  won  by  New  Hampshire  soldiers,  commanded  by  generals  from 
the  old  Granite  State ;  the  same  John  Stark  saved  the  day  at  Benaington 
which  was  one  of  the  most  decisive  battles  of  the  war.  The  glory  of 
his  achievements  are  of  such  lasting  nature  that  this  very  year  the 
State  of  New  Hampshire,  by  legislative  enactment,  will  place  in  Stat- 
uary Hall,  in  the  capital,  at  Washington,  a  marble  statue  of  heroic  size 
of  Major  General  John  Stark. 

Friends  and  fellow  citizens,  we  who  have  the  red  blood  of  Scotland 
in  our  veins,  may  well  be  proud  of  the  achievements  of  our  countrymen 
wherever  they  may  be  found,  in  town,  state,  or  nation.  Twelve  of  the 
presidents  of  the  United  States,  five  of  the  chief  justices  of  the  Supreme 
Court,  claims  to  be  of  Scotch  origin,  while  the  grand  list  of  scholars 
orators  and  and  statesmen,  who  have  the  same  blood  in  their  veins,  are 
without  number.  The  Scotch  emigrant  needs  not  not  to  be  American- 
ized ;  he  brings  with  him  no  old  world  race  of  national  antipathies,  but 


tt::^^V-^^^^-.;5>V-. 


"W^-Si^'i- ' 


a 


MILFORD  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION.  67 

a  love  of  our  country  and  our  institutions.  Americanism  is  a  question 
of  spirit,  convictions  and  purposes  and  not  of  creed  or  birthplace.  To 
be  successful  over  the  dangers  that  confront  us,  to  achieve  true  greatness 
and  reach  the  lofty  ideal  which  the  founders  and  preservers  of  our 
mighty  republic  have  set  before  us,  we  must  be  true  Americans  in  heart 
and  soul,  and  in  spirit  and  purpose.  We  must  be  proud  measure  of  the 
glorious  privilege  of  calling  ourselves  Americans. 

Friends,  and  fellow  citizens  of  Milford,  time  will  not  permit  further 
discussion  of  this,  to  me  vastly  interesting  subject,  for  I  am  a  Scotch- 
man! ^nd  ^^^  proud  of  the  fact,  and  as  a  citizen  of  this  one  hundred 
years'  old  town  I  am  proud  of  its  past  history  and  hopeful  for  its  future 
prosperity.  May  our  descendants  be  loyal  to  the  principles  of  truth, 
loyal  to  justice  and  liberty,  and  loyal  to  the  blood  of  their  ancestors. 

CHRISTOPHER  C,  SHAW,  ESQ, 

President  Wallace: — Agriculture  was  once  the  only  business  in  Mil- 
ford.  It  has  always  been,  and  is  now,  one  of  the  most  important  inter- 
ests. I  call  upon  Christopher  C.  Shaw,  a  son  and  life  long  resident  of 
Milford,  who  has  always  been  engaged  in  and  taken  a  deep  interest  in 
agriculture  to  speak  for  that  mterest. 

Mr.  President,  Ladies  and  Gentlemen  :  — 

Most  highly  do  I  appreciate  this  opportunity  of  participating  in  the 
exercises  of  this  historic  occasion.  Milford  and  her  associations  have 
always  been  dear  to  my  heart.  For  more  than  three  score  and  ten  years 
indeed,  for  the  larger  portion  of  the  century  that  has  now  passed  into 
history,  have  I  been  familiar  with  her  people,  her  industries,  and  her 
social,  political  and  religious  associations,  and  while  there  has  always 
been  enough  of  the  spirit  of  rivalry  to  promote  a  vigorous  progressive 
growth  in  the  various  interests  of  the  town,  there  has  at  all  times  existed 
that  fraternal  union  of  sentiment  which  has  kept  the  town  fully  abreast 
with  the  march  of  improvements. 

Indeed  as  a  town  noted  for  her  agriculture,  business  relations,  tem- 
perance and  other  reformatory,  moral,  political  and  religious  works,  and 
more  especially  ker  good  schools,  and  the  number  of  teachers  sent  out, 
she  has  stood  in  the  very  front  rank,  not  of  the  towns  of  New  Hamp 
shire  only,  but  of  New  England. 

Coursing  through  my  veins,  as  does  the  blood  of  the  first  Benjamin 
Hopkins,  John  Burns,  Captain  Nathan  Hutchinson,  Andrew  Burnham 
and  William  Shaw,  and  those  of  my  family,  of  William  Peabody,  two 
of  whom  served  their  country  in  the  Indian  wars,  two  more  in  the  war 
of  the  revelution,  and  still  another  in  the  war  of  1812,  it  affords  me 
great  satisfaction  to  embrace  this  opportunity  to  voice  the  love  aud  re- 
spect I  bear  to  them  and  their  associates,  the  early  settlers  of  this  town 
for  the  grand  inheritance  that  has  come  to  me  and  my  fellow  citizens 
through  their  rugged  courage,  industry  and  perseverance. 


68  BlILFORD  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 


Well  might  they  have  felt  a  just  pride,  when  they  were  clearing 
away  their  forests,  construcliug  their  log  houses,  and  planting  theic  hills 
of  Indian  corn  here  and  there  among  the  stumps  of  their  newly  cleared 
fields,  or  pounding  their  corn  into  meal,  preparatory  for  food,  with 
stones  from  their  fields,  or  carrying  it  some  15  or  20  miles  on  horseback 
through  the  bridle  paths  of  the  unbroken  forest,  to  the  nearest  mill  to 
get  it  ground.  Well  might  they  have  felt  a  just  pride,  I  say,  could  they 
have  looked  forward  to  the  town  of  to-day,  with  its  improved  agricul- 
ture, its  beaiitiful  homes,  manufactures,  raibx)ads,  schools,  churches,  free 
library,  water  system,  electric  lights,  and  best  of  all,  its  intelligent,  in- 
dustrious, happy  people. 

But  Mr.  President,  it  was  assigned  to  me  to  speak  of  the  agriculture 
of  the  town.  What  shall  I  say  of  it  ?  Agriculture,  as  a  subject,  has 
been  talked  threadbare  times  without  number,  and  still  it  comes  up  fresh 
and  full  of  interest  every  returning  season.  And  why  should  it  not  ? 
It  was  the  first  calling  of  man,  and  through  all  ages  it  has  continued  the 
first  of  importance,  and  the  underlying  industry.  It  furnished  more 
than  three-fourths  of  the  entire  exports  of  the  country.  So  also  of  the 
freights  of  our  great  lake  and  rail  transportation  companies.  It  fur- 
nishes the  principal  factor  of  the  commerce  of  our  great  cities,  and  gives 
employment  to  nearly  one-half  of  the  population  of  the  country.  In- 
deed upon  it  depends  not  only  the  prosperity  of  all  other  industries,  but 
in  fact  their  very  existence. 

But  of  the  agriculture  of  our  forefathers,  it  must  be  said  that  it  was 
not  only  primitive  but  crude  in  the  extreme.  They  found  themselves  in 
a  land  of  unbroken  forest,  the  clearing  and  burning  of  which  had  first 
to  be  done  before  the  arts  of  the  agriculturist  could  be  introduced.  The 
implements  with  which  they  had  to  do  with,  were  crude,  cumbersome, 
expensive  and,  to  the  agriculturist  of  the  present  day,  would  be  deemed 
entirely  unfit  for  the  purpose  they  were  designed  for.  Labor  was  scarce, 
and  seeds  were  limited  in  varieties,  and  hard  to  get.  Their  crops  con- 
sisted mainly  of  Indian  corn,  rye,  barley,  oats,  flax,  and  potatoes,  also 
beef,  pork,  mutton  and  poultry,  while  the  beautiful  handmaid  of  agri- 
culture, pomology,  was  scarcely  known. 

Little  grain  beyond  the  necessities  of  the  home  demand  was  raised, 
while  they  depended  largely  upon  their  animal  industry  for  their  cash 
receipts.  I  recollect  listening  to  the  tales  of  one  of  my  grandmothers  as 
she  narrated  her  recollections  of  the  methods  and  experiences  of  her 
great-grandfather,  Benj.  Hopkins  (or  Gov.  Hopkins,  as  he  was  familiarly 
called),  how  he  employed  the  friendly  Indians  in  carrying  on  his  great 
farm,  known  as  the  Charlestown  School  farm,  comprising  all  the  present 
farms  lying  on  the  river  road  between  Mr.  Matthias  F.  Crosby's  home 
farm  and  the  covered  bridge  at  Junes'  crossing,  so-called.  And  how  he 
paid  them  for  their  labor  largely  in  rum  and  tobacco ;  and  how  he  used 
to  gather  his  cattle  together  in  the  fall  of  the  year  and  drive  such  as 
could  be  spared  to  Boston  to  market.  Their  conveniences  for  travelling 
were  crude,  being  mostly  upon  horseback.    It  is  within  my  recollection 


MILFORi)  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION.  69 

that  the  wagon  known  now  as  the  farm,  or  family  wagon,  set  upon 
springs,  was  introduced.  So  also  of  the  mowing  machine,  reapers,  horse- 
rakes,  thrashing  machines,  iron  and  steel  plows,  cultivators,  seed  sowers 
and  all  dairy  utensils,  the  dash  churn,  cheese  press,  and  earthem  pans 
alone  excepted. 

Perhaps  there  is  no  period  in  the  history  of  the  town's  agriculture 
of  more  interest  than  the  years  irom  1810  to  1850,  when  the  culture  of 
hops  so  largely  prevailed.  Most  of  the  above  years  there  was  scarcely  a 
farm  within  the  town  that  did  not  have  from  one  to  five  and  six  acres, 
and  there  was  one  that  had  twenty  odd,  while  it  was  my  privilege  as  a 
boy  to  ride  horse  to  plow  thirteen  acres  besides  the  two  or  three  acres  of 
corn  and  one  or  more  of  potatoes.  The  riding  of  horse  to  plow  hops 
when  the  vines  are  well  up  the  poles,  as  they  usually  were  at  the  last 
hoeing,  was  peculiarly  interesting  as  all  will  testify  who  have  experi- 
enced the  drawing  of  a  good  strong  vine  across  the  face,  neck  or  arm. 

The  harvesting  or  picking  of  the  hops  was  a  season  of  great  inter- 
est, for  the  reason  that  they  were  picked  mostly  by  young  ladies,  gath- 
ered from  the  neighboring  towns  and  employed  from  two  to  three  weeks, 
varying  in  numbers  from  two  or  three  to  twenty  or  thirty,  and  some- 
times more,  seldom  ever  less  than  twenty  on  our  farm.  The  canvassing 
the  neighboring  town,  hunting  up  and  engaging  the  girls  (hoppickers 
as  we  called  them),  two  or  three  weeks  previous  to  the  harvest,  then  col- 
lecting them  in  big  two  horse  loads  and  returning  them  after  the  nops 
were  picked,  gave  us  boys  at  least  a  very  interesting  experience.  The 
culture  of  hops,  for  the  reason  of  their  being  mostly  used  in  the  brew- 
ing of  beer,  finally,  under  the  influence  of  the  temperance  movement, 
which  became  strong  in  the  town,  gave  way  gradually  to  other  crops, 
perhaps  I  might  say  to  the  raising  of  milk,  which  has  continued  to  be 
the  leading  crop  to  date. 

Next  to  the  above  in  interest,  perhaps,  the  cultivation  of  improved 
varieties  of  fruits,  has  made  as  great  strides  as  any  other.  The  science 
of  grafting,  budding  arid  hybridizing  were  not  practised  in  the  early 
history  of  the  town.  Indeed,  it  is  within  my  recollection  that  the  first 
apple  grafts  were  set  in  my  part  of  the  town,  at  which  time  I  had  never 
known  or  heard  of  a  sale  of  a  barrel  of  apples.  The  cultivation  of 
small  fruits  was  unheard  of,  and  there  were  but  two  pear  trees  in  town 
that  I  knew  of,  and  perhaps  my  knowledge  was  as  extended  on  that  sub- 
ject as  that  of  most  boys. 

To^iay  we  have  fine  orchards  of  luxurious  apples  upon  most  every 
farm,  while  their  reputation  has  become  world-wide,  and  the  markets  of 
the  old  world  our  best  customei-s.  We  have  also  our  pear  orchards,  vine- 
yards and  fields  of  small  fruits,  all  contributing  freely  lo  the  revenues 
of  their  enterprising  growers,  as  well  as  to  the  health  and  cheerfulness 
of  all  who  participate  in  their  consumption. 

Not  so  with  the  dairy.  The  cow  has  always  kept  pace  with  the 
civilization  of  man,  and  came  to  town  with  our  ancestors,  but  what  of 
her  ?    She  was  the  best  known  here  at  the  time,  but  like  most  of  her  as- 


ro  MILFORD  CfiNTENNTAL  CELEBRATION. 

sociations  of  our  forefathers,  she  was  crude.  The  scrub  of  to-day.  Yet 
our  grandmothers,  some  of  them  at  least,  with  their  earthern  pans  and 
dash  churns  knew  how  to  make  good  butler  and  cheese. 

The  best  of  butter  usually  sold  at  from  eight  to  twelve  cents  per 
pound,  and  cheese  from  six  to  ten  cents.  I  recall  a  conversation  that 
occurred  in  our  family  when  grandmother,  on  an  occasion  when  butter 
was  scarce  and  high,  took  the  ground  that  the  going  price  at  the  time, 
which  was  one  shilling  (16  2-3  cents)  per  pound,  was  too  high,  and  she 
felt  that  she  was  wronging  her  customers  to  take  more  than  12  1-2  cents. 
The  average  herd  of  cows  of  that  day  did  not  yield  more  than  from  two 
to  two  hundred  and  fifty  pounds  of  butter  per  cow  for  the  year,  while 
to-day  the  average  is  probably  over  three  hundred,  and  many  herds  go 
as  high  as  four  hundred  pounds. 

Eggs,  when  there  was  any  market  for  them,  usually  sold  at  from 
eight  to  twelve  cents  per  dozen.  Hay  from  $10  to  $15  per  ton  usually, 
but  in  times  of  scarcity  I  have  known  it  to  sell  as  high  as  $40  per  ton. 
Potatoes  usually  sold  at  from  15  to  25  cents  per  bushel,  the  latter  being 
regarded  a  very  good  price. 

Most  every  farmer  kept  a  few  sheep  in  those  days,  and  their  good 
wives  had  their  spinning  wheel  and  loom,  and  the  processes  through 
which  the  wool  went  after  leaving  the  sheep's  back  about  election  time, 
or  early  June,  until  its  return  from  the  fulling  mill,  in  the  fall,  all  r>)ady 
for  the  shears  of  the  tailor,  or  more  usually  the  tailoress,  who  had  been 
engaged  to  cut,  and  perhaps  make  the  suits  of  clothes  that  were  to  re- 
ward us  for  our  toil,  were  very  interesting,  for  it  was  the  only  full  cloth 
we  had  any  knowledge  of. 

So  also  of  flax,  contrary  to  the  present  ideas  of  some  gentlemen.  It 
was  quite  commonly  grown,  spun  and  woven  into  bedding,  underwear, 
table  linen,  towels,  eic,  specimens  of  which  are  now  on  exhibition  iD 
Eagle  hall. 

Farm  laborers  were  comparatively  scarce,  good  men  getting  from 
$10  to  $15  per  month,  while  the  day  laborer  got  from  62  1-2  cents  to  $1 
per  day,  according  to  the  season,  with  the  exception  of  the  time  of  har- 
vesting the  hay  crop,  which  all  having  to  be  cut  and  gathered  by  hand, 
created  a  great  demand  for  help.  Consequently  wages  were  often  as 
high  as  $2,  and  sometimes  $3  per  day. 

Corn  and  rye  were  used  a  great  deal  as  a  medium  of  exchange  with 
the  day  laborer,  and  generally  a  bushel  of  either  was  regarded  as  a  fair 
standard  for  a  day's  work,  the  hours  of  which  were  from  sunrise  to 
sunset 

But  my  allotted  time  is  up,  and  I  must  close,  but  in  closing  what 
shall  I  say  of  the  agriculture  of  the  future,  with  the  improvements  con- 
stantly being  made  in  farm  machinery  and  implements,  with  improved 
horses,  sheep  and  swine,  poultry,  with  the  Ilolsteins,  Ayreshire,  Short- 
horn, and  the  queen  of  the  dairy,  the  little  Jersey.  With  the  advanced 
intelligence  of  the  agriculturist,  constantly  being  enlarged  by  the  diffu- 
sion of  the  results  of  the  scientific  researches  of  the  national  department 


IHH    J-' 

7 

S 

y 

'^ 

'■^'fUSt^'"^^^'-^-'  I 

■■•/ 

if 

4  \>1l       ""^ 

r     ■■'-■-•■■■r  ■    ■--'■■•.  --r 

f 

MILFORD  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION.  71 

of  agriculture,  and  the  agricultural  colleges  and  experiment  station  of 
tlie  states;  from  the  frequent  exhibits  of  the  various  agricultural,  horti- 
cultural, promological  and  floral  societies,  and  the  almost  weekly  discuss- 
ing of  these  industries  carried  on  by  our  grange  and  institute  meetings, 
augmented  by  the  agricultural  press. 

This  prediction  1  dare  make,  that  grand  and  creditable  as  has  been 
the  niai'ch  of  progress  in  the  century  just  closed,  they  will  be  greatly  ex- 
celled during  the  next,  and  may  my  predictions  become  true,  and  may 
we  all  have  a  just  pride  in  having  contributed  our  best  efforts  to  so  great 
and  grand  a  result. 

DAVID  HEALD,  ESQ. 

President  Wallace: — I  see  here  an  old  resident  of  Milford,  who  has 
always  taken  a  deep  interest  in  everything  pertaining  to  her  welfare,  and 
who,  as  one  of  our  leading  manufacturers,  has  and  is  doing  as  much  as 
anyone  to  develop  the  manufacturing  interests  of  the  town,  David  Heald, 
who  will  speak  in  regard  to  our  local  interests. 

Mr.  President,  Ladies  and  Gentlemen  : 

Once  in  a  hundred  years  at  least,  it  may  be  well  to  remember  that 
law  proclaimed  so  long  ago,  that  "  In  the  sweat  of  thy  face  shall  thou 
eat  bread,"  and  that  it  is  also  true  of  the  clothes  we  wear  and  the  house 
we  live  in,  with  all  its  furnishings  of  use  or  ornament. 

So  we  have  not  only  labor  on  the  farm  to  secure  the  bread,  the 
meat,  the  food  we  need  to  make  up  the  growth  and  supply  the  waste  of 
the  body,  but  also  labor  in  the  mill,  the  shop,  the  factory,  to  transform 
what  is  called  raw  materials  into  articles  of  use  and  beauty  demanded 
by  our  civilization.  And  in  this,  as  in  the  labor  of  the  farm,  field  or 
forest,  there  must  be  sweat,  and  cost,  not  of  money,  but  of  labor.  Money 
is  only  the  yard  stick  with  which  we  measure  the  work.  And  making 
it  longer  or  shorter  by  legislation  may  have  little  or  nothing  to  do  with 
the  amount  of  physical  or  mental  force  to  prepare  the  necessities  or  lux- 
uries of  life.  Some  think  that  an  unequal  share  of  this  toil  is  appor- 
tioned to  certain  classes  of  persons.  If  so,  that  only  shows  the  fact  that 
this  law  is  not  well  executed.  And  that  may  lead  us  to  consider 
whether  the  non-enforcement  of  law  is  not  a  chronic  condition  of  our 
time.  The  remedy  is  being  sought,  so  far  at  least  as  the  labor  question 
is  concerned,  by  men  on  the  farm,  in  the  mill,  the  factory,  the  mine,  on 
our  railways,  in  our  cities  by  the  pulpit  and  the  press,  by  Coxey's  tramps 
in  the  east  and  west,  and  by  senators  and  representatives  in  our  national 
Congress,  and  no  doubt  some  one  ere  long  will  invent  a  regulator  which 
applied  to  our  labor  problem  will  distribute  the  burdens  of  life  equally 
among  men  and  women  as  well. 

Milford  one  hundred  years  ago  had  many  good  acres  of  soil,  splen- 
did forests  of  timber,  hills  full  of  the  clioicest  granite,  and  yet  all  this 
wealth  of  material  was  almost  valueless  to  man.  Sweat  of  the  face  must 
be  due  the  soil,  labor  must  bring  down  the  giant  trees  and  convert  them 
into  houses  to  live  in.     The  granite,  undisturbed  in  centuries,  must  be 


72  MTLFORD  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

uncovered,  broken  in  pieces  and  huge  blocks,  lifted  out  of  their  beds, 
and  by  patient  toil  with  hammer  and  chisel  transformed  until  they  take 
the  shapes  in  the  mind  of  the  artisan,  and  the  ix)lish  of  a  mirror.  This 
and  a  thousand  more  things  which  I  have  not  time  to  mention  are  what 
Milford  manufacturers  have  been  doing  for  the  last  hundred  years. 

The  first  manufacturing  business  of  importance  after  the  incorpora- 
tion of  the  town  was  the  building  of  the  mill  for  cotton  manufacturing, 
now  owned  by  the  Morse  &  Kaley  M'f'g.  Co.,  in  1813,  being  one  of  the 
first  cotton  mills  built  in  this  state.  Souhegan  mill  was  built  in  1847, 
and  burned  in  1872.  This  being  our  largest  industry,  it  was  a  serious 
blow  to  our  prosperity.  But  some  of  our  smaller  business  has  been  en- 
larged and  new  ones  come  in,  so  that  for  the  last  few  yeare  our  town  has 
had  a  steady,  healthy  gfrowth. 

Our  products  are  cotton  goods,  hosiery,  post  office  outfits,  leather, 
morocco,  paper  boxes,  fancy  boxes  and  desks,  baskets,  cooper  work, 
planes  and  coopers'  tools,  carriages,  painting,  furniture,  and  last  but  not 
least,  incubators  that  will  hatch  chickens  by  lamp-light,  and  brooders 
that  will  call  them  in  when  it  rains.  These  eventful  machines,  I  think» 
have  a  capacity  of  about  200  per  day,  and  my  friend  Billings  will  apply 
an  automatic  counting  attachment  that  will  relieve  our  poultry  men  of 
the  necessity  of  counting  their  chickens  before  they  are  hatched.  These 
new  methods  leaves  the  hens  free  to  devote  themselves  exclusively  to 
the  production  of  the  raw  material. 

Our  manufacturing  establishments  are  not  large,  and  the  proprie- 
tors are  not  men  of  wealth,  as  that  word  signifies  to-day ;  but  men  who 
have  their  own  fortunes  to  make,  and  sometimes  to  discount  the  misfor- 
tues  of  others  which  is  always  incident  to  a  manufacturing  business ; 
practical  men  who  obey  the  law  and  put  a  law  amount  of  sweat  andbrain 
in  their  work.  Many  in  my  memory  of  forty-four  years  have  passed 
away  and  the  ranks  are  filled  by  others.  These  names  are  known  to 
some  of  you :  Leonard  Chase,  Daniel  Putnam,  George  Daniels,  Robert 
Knight,  Wm.  Pratt,  Francis  J.  French,  Hiram  Daniels,  Andrew  Fuller, 
Wm.  (iiLson,  Moses  French,  W.  L.  Pierce,  John  Mills,  Timothy  Kaley. 

These  were  true  men,  who  had  at  heart  the  growth  and  good  of  this 
town.  All  were  captains  in  our  industrial  army,  not  marching  to  Wash- 
ington to  ask  government;  but  guards  at  home,  furnishing  employment 
to  many,  encouraging  education,  and  favoring  good  morals  and  religion, 
and  so  building  up  a  community  to  which  this  government  could  look 
for  help,  which  was  true  when  the  dark  hour  of  our  country's  peril  was 
upon  us,  and  she  did  not  look  and  ask  in  vain.  They  all  died  in  the 
faith  of  our  free  American  institutions,  and  shall  they  be  less  honored 
than  they  who  laid  down  their  lives  on  more  southern  fields. 

And  now  on  this  hundredth  birth-day  as  we  pau.se  in  our  journey 
to  look  back,  we  say  peace  to  their  ashes  and  honor  to  the  memory  of 
Milford's  dead  industrial  leaders.  And  resuming  our  business  cares  and 
burdens,  and  wiping  the  sweat  from  our  brows,  we  turn  our  faces  toward 
the  morning  of  the  twentieth  century,  not  knowing  if  we  shall  see  its 
rising. 


COL.  ().  W.  I.fl.L  MKMOKIAI.  FOUNTAIN. 


MTLPORD  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION.  73 


Dedication  of  riemorial  Fountain. 


The  spot  upou  which  this  fountain  stands  is  located  due  west  of  the 
residence  of  the  late  Col.  O.  \V.  Lull,  and  commands  a  pleasant  view 
from  the  street  and  surrounding  neighborhood.  The  fountain  and  the 
accompanying  adornments  are  of  a  most  appropriate  character,  and  form 
an  interesting  chapter  in  the  memorial  eiforts  of  Mrs.  Lull,  and  the  sen- 
timents so  beautifully  expressed  are  dedicated  to  the  memory  of  the  men 
of  Milford  who  died  representing  her  in  the  rebellion. 

The  bronze  structure  is  a  work  of  art,  about  12  feet  in  height.  It 
stands  upon  a  granite  foundation  placed  in  the  centre  of  a  circular  basin, 
some  forty  feet  in  circumference.  The  fountain  outlets  for  water  dis- 
play are  numerous,  and  above  and  below  them  are  attached  electric  lights 
which  nore  fully  develop  the  sentiment  of  the  undertaking.  Around 
the  outer  edge  of  the  basin,  sufficient  space  has  been  allowed  for  the  per 
nianent  location  of  a  tablet  from  every  state  in  the  union,  a  number  of 
which  are  now  in  position.  The  present  marked  feature  of  the  enter- 
prise are  four  broiize  tablets  as  follows :  one  on  north  side  of  fountain 
bearing  the  inscription  :  "  Memorial  Fountain,  dedicated  by  Oliver  W. 
Lull  Post,  G.  A.  R.,  on  the  100th  anniversary  of  the  town,  June  26th, 
1894."  South  side  tablet,  "Our  patriot  dead,  they  still  live  in  words  the 
truest,  deeds  the  noblest  and  in  love  that  is  eternal."  East  side  tablet, 
"  In  honor  of  the  gallant  men  from  Milford,  who  pledged  or  gave  their 
lives  for  liberty  and  in  defence  of  the  Union."  West  tablet,  '•  Liberty. 
Heroes  of  the  Revolution,  1776 — 1781,  on  land  and  sea.  Patriots  of 
1812.  Union."  This  memorial  fountain  was  formally  dedicated  on 
Centennial  day,  in  the  presence  of  a  large  number  of  our  citizens,  by 
Post  O.  W.  Lull,  with  appropriate  ceremonies. 

Oliver  W.  Lull  Post,  J.  R.  Perkins,  Commander,  assembled  at  G.  A. 
R.  headquarters,  at  8.30  o'clock,  and  under  escort  of  the  Milford  Cornet 
Band,  J.  F.  Holland,  leader,  marched  to  the  residence  of  Mrs.  Mary  A. 
Lull,  taking  position  on  the  south  side  of  the  Fountain. 

Mrs.  Lull,  in  transferring  the  Memorial  to  the  Post  for  dedication, 
spoke  as  follows : 


74  MILFORD  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 


Mk.  Commander  and  Comrades:  —  Will  you  raise  the  flag  and 
dedicate  this  Fountain  in  honor  of  all  the  gallant  men  from  Milford.  of 
whatever  nation,  race  or  color,  who  pledged  or  gave  their  lives  for  "  Lib- 
erty "  and  in  defence  of  "  The  Union." 

The  flag  was  then  unfurled  in  the  presence  of  a  large  number  of 
citizens  and  the  band  played  the  Star  Spangled  Banner.  In  accepting 
the  memorial  for  dedication,  Commander  J.  R.  Perkins  observed  the 
ceremony  as  laid  down  ir.  the  Grand  Army  ritual. 

Commander  —  In  the  name  of  the  comrades  of  the  G.  A.  II.,  repre- 
senting as  they  do  all  soldiers  and  sailors,  who  defended  our  iioines  and 
our  nation,  I  thank  you  for  this  privilege  and  this  honor  iu  dedicating 
this  Fountain. 

Adjutant  —  Detail  a  guard  of  honor. 

Officer  of  Day,  you  will  direct  the  officers  of  the  guard  to  their 
stations. 

The  guards  having  been  placed  on  the  four  sides  of  the  fountain, 
the  commander  called 

Attention  —  In  the  name  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic  I  now 
dedicate  this  Memorial  Fountain.  I  dedicate  it  to  all  Soldiers  and  in- 
cluding those  of  the  war  of  1776 — 1812,  and  1818,  whose  remains  lie  on 
the  camping  ground  of  the  dead,  for  their  record  hius  been  handed  down 
to  us  by  history,  and  comrades,  I  especially  detlicate  this  Fountain  to  all 
soldiers  and  sailors  who  fought  in  the  late  rebellion,  for  a  £>ee  country 
and  free  states  and  for  freedom,  the  constitution  and  the  flag,  and  as  this 
Fountain,  sparkling  with  living  waters,  shall  be  a  memorial  of  this  cen- 
tennial day,  and  when  the  hands  of  another  generation  shall  reach  forth 
to  cat<;h  its  silvery  spray,  and  even  when  its  waters  cease  to  flow  and  it 
crumbles  to  the  dust,  may  the  memory  of  this  noble  woman,  Mary  A. 
Lull,  together  with  the  brave  soldier,  Col.  Oliver  W.  Lull,  and  nienilwrs 
of  O.  VV.  Lull  Post,  and  all  Milford's  war  sons,  to  whom  this  Fountain 
is  dedicated  to-day,  shall  live  never  to  be  forgotten.  Comrades,  salute 
the  dead. 

Commander  to  Mrs.  Lull  —  Our  services  of  dedication  are  ended.  In 
the  name  of  my  comrades  I  thank  you  for  your  loyalty  to  all  of  the 
defendeis  of  our  republic,  and  for  your  courtesy  in  permitting  us  who 
are  bound  by  special  ties  to  dedicate  this  fountain  in  honor  of  our  dead. 

Chaplain,  pronounce  the  benediction. 

The  Officer  of  the  Day  then  withdrew  the  guard. 

During  the  ceremonies  the  Lyndeboro'  Heavy  Artillery,  headed  by 
the  Wilton  Comet  band,  moved  into  the  enclosure,  and  occupied  a  posi- 
tion south  of  the  Fountain.  The  exercises,  which  had  taken  place  in 
the  presence  of  a  large  number  of  citizens  and  friends,  were  of  a  most 
interesting  nature,  at  the  conclusion  of  which  the  guards  were  with- 
drawn, and  the  procession,  with  the  addition  of  the  Lyndeboro'  Artillery, 
was  reformed  and  marched  to  the  headquarters  of  the  Grand  Army  of 
the  Republic  and  dismissed. 


MILFORD  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION.  75 

EVENING  EXERCISES. 

A  reception  was  held  on  the  grounds  at  8  p.  m.  Capt.  J.  M.  Stanyan 
acted  as  master  of  ceremonies.  A  song  was  rendered  by  the  Dearborn 
brothers,  remarks  and  reading  of  an  original  poem  by  Maj.  Proctor  of 
WUton  : 


Pure  water,  cold,  cold  water, 

God's  kindest  gift  to  man, 
And  he  who  plants  a  fountain 

Works  on  his  sacred  plan. 
To  him  will  come  the  laurel, 

The  crown  is  justly  won, 
To  him  will  come  the  welcome, 

"  Faithful  servant.    Well  done." 

Pure  water,  cold,  cold  water. 

What  a  boon  to  ease  the  pain 
Of  the  poor  old  wounded  soldier 

Upon  the  war  wrecked  plain, 
I,ying,  with  burning  thirst  a  dying 

On  the  field  of  slaughter. 
Begging,  pleading,  no  one  heeding, 

For  just  one  drink  of  water  ; 

Pure  water,  cold,  cold  water. 

May  it  be  the  strongest  link 
Of  old  Post  lyuU's  comradeship. 

Their  only  perfect  drink, 
So  when  their  friends  from  rustic  shades 

Come  down  from  up  the  mountain, 
May  this  beacon  shine,  and  guide  their  line, 

To  treat  them  at  this  fountain. 

And  'neath  its  light  repeat  again 

The  days  of  duty  done. 
Of  dry  and  dusty  weary  marches. 

And  fields  that  were  nobly  won. 
Of  how  they  fought,  the  shell,  the  shot, 

The  oft-repeated  story. 
The  days  of  blood,  of  cruel  war. 

Fighting,  dying  for  "  old  Glory," 
Which  uow  floats  so  proudly  o'er  us. 

In  a  beauty  true,  divine. 
The  emblem  of  our  country  free, 

"  May  its  stars  forever  shine." 

Yes,  cast  your  bread  upon  the  waters. 

And  after  many  days. 
It  will  return  to  bless  you 

In  many  precious  ways. 
For  He,  who  from  Horeb's  rock 

Made  the  crystal  life  stream  free. 
Placed  his  rainbow  in  the  sky, 

That  all  the  world  might  see 
The  beauty  of  the  rain-drop. 

In  Heaven,  so  clear  and  pure. 
On  earth,  with  healing  in  its  wing^ 

The  omnipotent  cure. 


W  MILPORD  CENTENinAL  CELEBRATION. 


Pure  water,  cold,  cold  water 

That  from  tbis  fountain  flows, 
Is  as  a  leaf  from  its  doner's  life 

In  tbe  blessings  she  bestows. 
The  soldier's  friend  till  life  shall  end. 

With  ajheart  of  charity. 
To  her,  the  crown>,  "  Well  done,  well  done, 

Good  and  faithful,"  it  will  be. 
For  our  promise  is,  "  Who  g^iveth  the  cup 

Of  water  pnre  and  free 
To  even  the  least  of  one  of  these 

Hath  done  it  uuto  Me." 

Remarks  by  R.  D.  Jones  of  Boston,  architect  of  the  fountain ;  song 
entitled  " Fairy  Land  Waltz,"  by  a  quartette  of  young  ladies;  leniarks 
by  Rev.  F.  L.  Knapp,  and  Rev.  Joseph  Manuel.  H.  F.  Warren  being 
called  upon  said  that  while  he  could  not  perhaps  claim  to  have  the 
younge.st  son  of  a  veteran,  he  could,  however,  boast  of  the  youngest  .son 
of  a  veteran  in  the  United  States  to  turn  on  aa  electric  light.  At  this 
point  the  electric  lights  attached  to  tbe  fountain  were  flashed  upon  the 
scene,  the  switch  being  turned  on  by  H.  F.  Warren,  Jr.,  nine  weeks  old. 
Remarks  and  songs  by  John  liutchiiuson,  assLsted  by  Mrs.  Birney,  and 
granddaughter.  Closing  remarks  by  David  Heald  and  W.  W.  Hemen- 
way.  The  large  American  flag  that  hung  suspended  over  the  fountain 
bore  the  following  inscription  : 

"  The  stars  shall  shine  on  forever,  they  are  all  there.  Thanks  to  you 
and  your  comrades." 

Refreshments  were  .served  after  the  exercises.  The  occasion  was 
one  of  peculiar  interest  to  all  present. 


HAM.    COMMITTKK 

•••  B.  Baktlktt.  I)k.  h.  s.  Hutchinson, 

Henry  Clav  BrxxoN, 

W.    H.    \V.    HINOS.    JK  Ur     F.    M.    WeTHERBEK. 


mtlfokd  centennial  CI^.LEBRATTON.  Tt 


CENTENNIAL 

CONCERT  AND  BALL. 

Town  Hall,  June  26,  i894. 


78 


Mn^FORD  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 


m 

Ci) 


3      "^      § 


35        5 


«     = 


5      «i     !£ 

5      £      S 


«0 

u 

u 

z 
o 

< 


S      ^ 


H 

>< 

1 

B 

4* 

3 

^ 

•J 

■J 

P, 

a. 

a 

X 

X 

<: 

a« 

> 

S 

I 


H 
U 

n 
« 


E 
E 

s 

c 
o 
♦3 

a 

I 


o 

»     •< 
U     X 

OS    0« 


>     J     W     -J 


«     ^     >     ^ 


S    &    fc 


.     ■< 


^  q  S 

fc   f;   hI   w  w 
si  S  w  -:,  u 


> 

o 

o 

> 

•A 

H 

< 

«' 

iJ 

«J 

U 

u 

K 

n 

<   X 
i  6 


«    fl    ■<    Q 


J!     w 


X     V. 

o    o 

X  X 


<   X 


c  < 


^    !^ 


X    >*«    W    o 

a    o     .     .    w 

a  •->  u  <  o 


«  s 

Oi  n 

S  £  S  « 

?  5  3  '^    « 

Q  to  »  J         « 

o5  ^  W  <■    < 


Q    < 


<    f* 


«  e 


<  «  o« 


^   K   ^ 
55    ^    ifc 


g    K   S 


2   W 


as£,n»QOu>=^a^2 


MILFORD  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 


79 


o 

^ 

a* 

% 

w 

U 

U 

5j 

> 

xn 

n 

W 

rr 

« 

H 

B>  s  O 
O  O  (» 


3   0) 


SJ'O 
en  B^ 


2^ 

0  e 

1  ^ 


oi  O  r» 

d  3 


> 
X 


O 

a 

> 

o 

f 

c3 

o 

•^  \ 

u 

*TJ 

^5 

> 

fs 

r 

"d 

1  n- 

> 

™  S 

="  2 

h-^ 

o 

t^ 

Sffq 

w 

O  o 

so 

03 

1 

to 

3  » 

■^ 

o  5 

•t 

5; 

C-B- 

o 

a 

o- 

B™ 

A 

(t 

S- 

3 

s 

3  en 

V 

o-p 

A 

rtivj 
3" 

e> 

*^ 

--3- 

1 

tr.  ** 

' 

CD 
1 

gs 


o 

a 
o 

r   n 
•n  a 

2.   M 

to      • 

s 

5' 

W5 


so 


MILFOED  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 


C 


u. 


H 

H 

O) 

-J 

H 

cn 

^ 

1 

< 

(- 

OQ 

UJ 

' 

OQ 

(- 

ul 

< 

OQ 

>- 

ui 

I/) 

Q 

LU 

*     ffl 

z 

-1 

.*.        ^ 

■^       «■ 

UJ 

X 

< 

*  1  1 

;?r 

^ 

uJ 

•^     T 

? 

t    * 

o 

to 

z 

X 

uu 

o 

u 

f- 

X 
c/) 
X 

^ 

u 


tt.       s 

*>    .s 


u     i 


a     J5 


MORSE  &  KALKY  MANUFACTURING  CO. 
Bstablished  1840. 


MILFORD  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION.  81 


Loan  and  Art  Exhibition. 


The  Loan  and  Art  Exhibition,  as  held  at  Eagle  Hidl,  was  a  very 
successful  feature  of  the  day's  celebration.  It  reflected  credit  alike  upon 
the  committee  who  had  it  in  charge  and  the  generosity  of  the  people,  in 
contributing  so  liberally  towards  its  success,  by  loaning  so  many  ancient 
and  interesting  relics  of  by-gone  days.  It  was  unfortunate  that'  this 
exhibition  could  not  have  been  continued  longer,  that  the  public  might 
study  it  more  carefully  and  thereby  gain  the  information  and  instruc- 
tion that  it  contained. 

The  committee  organized  by  the  choice  of  Mrs.  J.  E.  Webster  as 
President.  The  hall  was  arranged  with  tables  on  either  side  and  in  the 
centre,  and  their  historical  articles  arranged  upon  them,  with  the  names 
of  the  loaners  and  the  historical  significance  plainly  marked  upon  a  card 
and  attached  to  each  article,  thus  enabling  the  visitors  to  examine  and 
inspect  them  intelligently.  By  an  unfortunate  oversight,  these  cards, 
which  contained  so  much  interesting  information,  were  early  destroyed, 
otherwise  we  could  describe  this  exhibit  more  minutely  and  comprehen- 
sively. We  were  enabled  however,  from  some  records  that  were  pre- 
served, to  give  a  partial  list  of  those  who  contributed  articles,  and, 
although  not  perfect,  furnishes  some  idea  of  the  number  and  size  of  the 
exhibit. 

Mrs.  Nancy  Bennett,  aged  ninety-three  years,  was  present  during  the 
day  and  gave  an  illustration  of  the  method  of  spinning,  with  the  old 
fashioned  wheel. 

NAMES  OF  DONATORS. 

Mrs.  E.  L.  Hodgman,  Mary  Thurston,  E.  P.  Hutchinson,  Mrs.  Rhoda 
Parker,  Mrs.  Joel  Gutterson,  Rev.  A.  M.  Pendleton,  R.  H.  Pierce,  Miss 
Christine  Moore,  Caleb  Hutchinson,  Charles  Dodge,  Mrs.  Clarence  Gut- 
terson. J.  F.  Boynton,  Mrs.  Henry  Warren,  Mrs.  Henry  Mason,  William 
Coburn,  Mrs.  Gunison,  Mrs.  Stillman  Hutchinson,  Mrs.  P.  Russell,  Mrs. 
Joel  Duncklee,  H.  Carter  Towne,  Mrs.  Jennie  Towne,  Mrs.  Dola  Thomp- 


82  MILFORD  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

son,  Mrs.  Fred  Sawyer,  John  Kenney,  Mrs.  H.  Moore,  Miss  P.  N.  Love- 
joy,  David  Heald,  William  Burtt,  Calvin  A.  Averill,  Z.  Mills,  E.  E,  Hill, 
Mrs.  Hannah  Chase,  Mrs.  Mary  A.  Lull,  Mrs.  Langdell,  Mrs.  Solon  Kim- 
ball, Mrs.  Chas.  Pinkham,  Dr.  Hinds,  Miss  Atalanta  Knight,  Mrs.  A. 
French,  E.  G.  Hamblett,  Mrs.  Kaley,  O.  H.  Foster,  G.  H.  Stevens,  Mrs. 
Milo  Burnham,  Mrs.  John  Twiss,  Mrs.  Will  Hutchinson,  Mrs.  Bennett, 
Mrs.  Thomas  Winters,  Mrs.  J.  W.  Pillsbury,  Mrs.  D.  S.  Dearborn,  C.  H. 
Russell,  Winfred  Mansfield,  W.  R.  Fitch,  Hervey  P.  Putnam,  Frank 
Wetherbee,  A.  M.  Wilson,  Mrs.  J.  E.  Webster,  Col.  J.  W.  Crosby,  Mrs. 
M.  J.  Gillpatrick,  Mrs.  F.  T.  Sawyer,  Mrs.  D.  N.  Gk>odwin,  Mrs.  Leroy 
Hutchinson,  Mrs.  Marshall,  Mrs.  Julia  Hill,  Mrs.  J.  P.  Melzer,  Mrs.  Abel 
Crosby,  Mrs.  C.  Wilkins,  Mrs.  F.  W.  Ordway,  Mrs.  J.  M.  Burns,  Mrs.  E. 
Wilkins,  Mrs.  Watkins,  Mrs.  A.  J.  Sargent,  Mrs.  H.  P.  Peck,  Mrs.  C. 
Dodge,  Mrs.  John  Mills,  Adison  Heald,  B.  F.  Foster,  Jennie  Merrill, 
Mrs.  Frank  Barker,  Mrs.  Stinson,  Mrs.  J.  M.  Laws,  A.  L.  Keyes,  Mrs. 
Kate  Bimey,  Dr.  A.  W.  Smith,  Mrs.  Nancy  Sargent,  Mrs.  Kimball,  Mrs. 
Brooks,  William  Burtt,  E.  A.  Savage,  Miss  Ball,  J.  B.  Heald,  Mrs.  James 
Anderson,  L.  N.  Wright,  Mrs.  Geo.  W.  Burns,  Mrs.  Kendall,  Mrs.  R.  M. 
Wallace,  Mrs.  Lawrence,  Mary  L.  Tucker,  Mrs.  C.  R.  Crosby,  C.  B.  Wil 
son,  Mrs.  J.  R.  Wilkins,  Mrs.  G.  A.  Ramsdell,  Miss  Trow,  Miss  Fannie 
MerriU,  Mrs.  J.  C.  Boutelle,  Mrs.  J.  B.  Fretts,  J.  W.  Prince,  H.  P.  Dar- 
racott,  Mrs.  Ford,  B.  F.  Hutchinson,  Henry  Parkhurst,  C.  C.  Shaw, 
Arthur  R.  Webster,  Miss  E.  A.  Livermore,  Mrs.  Prince,  Gilman  Harts- 
horn, D.  L.  Daniels. 


MILFORD  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION.  88 


FIREWORKS    AT    ENDICOTT    PARK, 
Tuesday    Evening. 


By  Maston  &  Wells,  Boston. 


Twelve  Exhibition  Batteries. 
Seventy-five  Exhibition  Candles. 
Six  Rocket  Batteries. 
Forty-eight  Exhibition  Rockets. 
Twenty-four  two  pound  Display  Rockets. 
Twelve  Balloon  Rockets. 
Twenty-four  Revolving  Rockets,  assorted. 
Twelve  Golden  Fountains. 
Twelve  Exhibition  Mines. 
Forty-eight  Assorted  Shells  and  Bombs. 
Fifty  Colored  Bengola  Lights. 

SET   PIECES. 

Exhibition  wheel,  colored. 
Colored  Floral  Piece. 
Meteoric  Shower. 
Star  of  America. 

CEXTENNIAL    DESIGN. 

Within  a  circle  of  Silver  flame  is  displayed  the  word  "  Milford " 
and  "  Centennial "  in  crimson  fires,  with  the  dates  1738  - 1794,  and  the 
scales  of  Justice  between.  A  Scroll  or  Wreath  below  bears  the  motto  of 
June  26th,  1894,  and  upon  either  side  the  design  is  supported  by  Batter- 
ies of  Roman  Candles  and  Detonating  Shells,  which  throw  sn  arch  of 
fire  over  the  whole  composition,  and  conclude  with  deafening  reports. 


M  MILFOBD  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 


LETTERS. 


'United  States  Senate, 
Washington,  D. C,  June  9,  1894. 
Messrs.  G.  A.  Worcester  and  E,  C.  Hutchinson,  Committee,  Milford.  N.H.: 

Gentlemen: — It'^gires  me  pleasure  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of 
your  kind  invitation  to  be  present  on  the  One  Hundredth  Anniversary  of 
the  Incorporation  of  Milford,  June  26.  I  regret  to  state  that  I  cannot 
hope  to  attend,  on  account  of  the  pressure  of  other  duties. 

It  occurs  to  me  to  say  that  I  grow  more  and  more  in  favor  of  annL 
versary  and  memorial  celebrations.  The  revival  of  reminiscences  by  the 
old,  and  their  study  by  the  young,  enter  into  the  growth  of  character  in 
both  old  and  young,  more,  perhaps,  than  even  individual  experiences  in 
life.  The  founders  of  our  New  England  towns  were  noble  men  and 
women.  The  lapse  of  time  has  made  great  changes  in  society,  but  I 
believe  not  such  as  will  diminish  reverence  for  the  virtues  and  the  labors 
of  our  ancestors,  who  laid  broad  and  deep  tiie  foundations  of  our  repub- 
lic No  town  is  richer  in  historic  memories  than  Milford.  I  trust  the 
sentiments  which  will  be  aroused  at  your  anniversary,  will  be  fruitful  of 
happiness  and  beaefit  to  all  y»ur  people. 

STours  truly, 

WM.  E.  CHANDLER. 


House  of  Representatives,  U.  S., 
Washington,  June  23, 1894. 

Hiestrs.  G.  A.  Worcester  and  E.  C.  Hutchinson,  Committee  on  Invitations: 
Gentlemen:  I  am  in  receipt  of  your  polite  invitation  to  join  in  the 
Centennial  celebration  of  the  incorporation  of  your  beautiful  town,  and 
regfret  that  my  duties  here  will  prevent  my  uniting  with  you  upon  that 
interesting  occasion.  A  hundred  years  b  a  long  time,  and  probably  no 
one  can  remember  when  your  ancestors  became  a  "  body  politic,"  but  in 


MILFORD  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION.  86 

the  history  of  a  New  England  town,  whose  organization  andgoveroineiit 
are  based  upon  the  continuing  will  of  the  people,  it  is  a  brief  period  and 
one  which  we  may  readily  believe  will  be  celebrated  again  and  a^ain, 
until  your  coming  anniversary  will  be  so  far  in  the  past  that  it  will  exist 
only  as  a  tradition  or  a  record.  Such  I  am  confident  will  be  the  good 
fortune  of  your  citizens,  and  I  congratulate  them  upon  the  happy  condi- 
tions under  which  life  is  enjoyed  and  dignified  by  them,  and  upon  the 
certainty  that  through  the  coming  centuries  their  descendants  will  per- 
petuate for  themselves  and  their  neighbors  the  blessings  of  civil  and  re- 
ligious liberty,  that  public  education  may  be  maintained,  that  self-gov- 
ernment may  not  perish,  and  that  the  right  to  worship  according  to  the 
dictates  of  conscience  may  not  be  questioned,  but  may  be  recognized 
everywhere  as  an  "  inalienable  right," 

Your  program  of  celebration  is  an  excellent  one.  It  will  be  char- 
acterized by  eloquent  words  of  wisdom  and  patriotism,  and  by  appro- 
priate festivities.     I  regret  my  inability  to  be  with  you. 

Very  truly  yours, 

H.  M.  BAKER. 


91  Cross  Strset, 
SoMERYiiXE,  June  7, 1894. 

Messrs.  Worcester  and  Hutchinson : 

Gentlemen  :— I  am  in  receipt  of  your  invitation  to  attend  the  Cen- 
tennial Anniversary  of  the  Incorporation  of  the  Town  of  Milford.  It 
will  give  me  pleasure  to  be  present,  if  circumstances  will  admit.  I 
retain  very  pleasant  recollections  of  Milford,  for  some  of  the  pleasantest 
years  of  my  life  were  spent  with  the  people  of  that  community.  I  thank 
you  most  heartily  for  the  invitation.  Sincerely, 

R.B.  MOODY. 


Superior  Court  of  Cook  County, 

Judge  Jonas  Hutchinson 

IN  Chambers. 

Chicago,  June  18,  1894. 

George  A.  Worcester,  Esq.,  Sec'y,  etc., 

My  Dear  Sir  : — I  regi-et  that  I  cannot  be  present  to  participate  in 
the  rejoicing  over  the  One  Hundredth  Anniversary  of  the  Incorporation 
of  the  Town  of  Milford.  My  duties  are  so  imperative  that  I  cannot 
leave  here  until  about  the  middle  of  July.  That  the  celebration  may  be 
a  glorious  success,  worthy  of  the  noble  men  and  women  who  laid  the 
foundation  of  the  town,  and  of  those  who  have,  by  devotion  to  its  wel- 
fare, made  it  the  foremost  town  of  its  size  in  the  state,  for  enterprise, 
virtue  and  intelligence,  is  the  profound  wish  of  the  writer. 

Yours  very  truly, 

JONAS  HUTCHINSON. 


86  MILFORD  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

Office  of  City  Attorney. 

Edoerton,  Wis.,  June  21, 1894. 
Messrs.  Worcester  and  Hutchinson,  Committee^  etc.  : 

Gentlemen  :  —  I  thank  you,  and  through  you,  the  good  people  of 
Milford  for  your  very  courteous  invitation  to  join  in  celebrating  the  cen- 
tennial of  Milford's  incorjwration,  and  greatly  regret  that  ray  duties 
forbid  accepting  such  invitation. 

You  have  most  abundaut  material  for  an  unusually  happy  centen- 
nial celebration.  Mill-ford,  the  mill  at  the  ford,  was  one  key  to  the 
prosperity  of  the  town. 

Her  huge  beds  of  granite  and  her  dense  forests  were  others,  but 
better  than  all  these  was  that  intelligence,  energy,  thrift  and  virtue  of 
her  people  that  seized  on  these  advantages,  put  them  to  a  practical  use 
and  built  up  her  her  homes,  schools,  churches,  libraries  and  other  insti- 
tutions which  have  made  a  history  that  eveiy  son  of  that  gfrand  old 
town  may  well  be  proud  of ;  while  at  the  same  time  you  have  abolished 
saloons,  gaming  houses  and  other  places  of  immorality  and  dissipation. 

Her  first  hundred  years  is  nobly  secure,  and  it  is  most  fitting  that 
its  completion  should  be  suitably  celebrated. 

Her  past,  so  prosperous  and  patriotic,  is  full  of  promise  of  a  most 
glorious  future,  therefore  I  bespeak  for  you  a  happy  and  successful  cele- 
bration ;  one  that  shall  arouse  her  people  to  still  greater  achievements 
and  prosperity  as  the  town  enters  on  its  second  centennial. 

Very  truly  yours, 

J.  P.  TOWNE. 


South  Haven,  Mich.,  June  20,  1894. 
To  G.  A.  Worcester  and  E.  C.  Hutchinson,  Committee  on  Invitations: 

Gentlemen:  —  Your  kind  invitation  to  be  present  upon  the  occar 
sion  of  the  One  Hundredth  Anniversary  of  the  Incorporation  of  Milford 
was  duly  received  with  thanks. 

To  a  native  of  the  "  Granite  State,"  the  mere  reminder  of  an  anni- 
versary occasion  is  sufficient  to  stir  one's  pride  and  cause  one's  blood  to 
pulsate  quicker.  As  I  picture  to  myself  the  happy  faces  and  imagine 
the  "fea.stof  reason  and  flow  of  soul,"  it  is  with  regret  that  I  cannot 
mingle  with  the  joyous  throng,  and  unite  in  eulogizing  the  grand  old 
town,  where  more  than  thirty  of  the  pjeasantest  years  of  my  life  were 
passed.  As  "  distance  lends  enchantment  to  the  view,"  so  must  1  be 
content,  and  although  in  a  distant  State,  surely  shall  I  be  present  in  spirit 
on  that  festal  day,  and  ever  be  proud  to  claim  Milford  as  the  spot  where 
my  eyes  for  the  first  time  beheld  the  light.  Let  me  say  to  all  friends 
who,  perchance,  may  be  present,  that  many  years  spent  in  the  West  only 
deepen  my  regard  for  the  place  of  my  birth,  its  beautiful  homes,  its 
grand  history,  and  its  intelligent  people. 

EDWARD  LOVEJOY. 


MILFORD  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION.  87 

Cleveland,  Ohio,  June  5,  1894. 
Gentlemen  of  the  Centennial  Committee :  — 

Your  kind  invitation  to  attend  the  Celebration  of  the  One  Hun- 
dredth Anniversary  of  the  Incorporation  of  Miiford,  N.  H.,  is  received. 
Please  accept  thanks  and  regrets  that  I  cannot  be  present.  I  would 
gladly  meet  once  more  the  remnant  of  those  who  were  boys  and  girls 
together  fifty  and  sixty  years  ago.  I  learned  my  A,  B,  C.'s,  and  a  few 
other  rudiments,  in  a  district  school  in  the  southwestern  part  of  the 
town.  My  first  teaching  was  also  undertaken  in  this  self-same  district. 
I  think  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Addison  Peabody,  and  a  few  other  of  my  old 
pupils,  still  survive.  This  was  half  a  century  ago,  I  vividly  remem- 
ber the  old  landmarks,  the  rather  hilly  road,  the  spearmint,  the  wild 
roses  and  ferns,  with  the  berries  which  grew  by  the  roadside  ;  but  espec- 
ially do  I  remember  the  school  committee,  "  Priest "  ^loore  and  '•  Squire" 
Livermore,  with  others  whose  names  are  less  familiar.  Also,  the  old 
Baptist  meeting-house  on  the  sandy  hill,  where  Samuel  Everett,  Mark 
Carpenter,  and  others,  before  and  after,  preached  the  word  as  they  un- 
derstood it,  in  all  sincerity,  and  the  Hutchinson  Family,  filled  the  sing- 
er's seats.  And  earlier  than  this  T  have  a  dim  recollection  of  the  time 
when  Calvin  Averill  and  Diamond  Pearson  played  the  bass  viol  and 
Luther  Wallace  blew  the  clarionet.  But  these  times  seem  misty  and  far 
away,  with  now  and  then  an  event  or  a  face  distinct  and  real ;  among 
these  were  the  baptisms,  which  took  place  in  old  Souhegan,  with  the 
singing  at  the  waterside,  and  old  Dea.  Hutchinson  receiving  the  candi- 
dates as  they  came  up  out  of  the  water ;  these  were  impressive  scenes,  I 
wonder  do  they  still  occur  in  the  old  way?  As  I  write  scenes  and  indi- 
viduals almost  forgotten  come  vividly  to  mind.  I  wonder  do  they  still 
raise  hops  in  Miiford?  We  used  to  have  great  times  picking  hops.  For 
more  than  a  third  of  a  century  my  home  has  been  in  the  beautiful  city 
of  Cleveland,  on  the  shore  of  Lake  Erie.  During  these  years  I  have  many 
times  revisited  my  Eastern  home,  and  though  Ohio  seems  a  little  more 
familiar  and  real  to  me  than  New  Hampshire,  I  still  feel  interested  in 
all  that  concerns  Miiford,  and  am  always  proud  of  being  a  New  Eng- 
lander.  Miiford  is  a  good  place  to  come  from,  and  I  doubt  not  an  equally 
good  place  to  stay  in.  I  send  greeting  to  the  remnant  of  the  old  days' 
and  God  speed  to  the  present  and  coming  generation.  Mav  they  be  true 
to  their  motto  of  "  Equal  and  exact  justice  to  all,"  and  wiser  and  better 
than  we  of  the  past.  Very  respectfully, 

ABBY  L.  O.  AVERILL  STONE. 


Valrico,  Fla.,  June  4,  1894. 
To  the  Town  of  Miiford,  through  your  Committee  on  Invitations  : 

I  am  pleased  to  say  that  I  have  received  your  very  polite  invitation 
to  be  present  on  the  occasion  of  your  Centennial  Celebration,  but  regret 
that  I  shall  not  be  able  to  attend.     Please  receive  my  best  wishes  that 


MILFOED  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 


the  day  may  be  all  that  you  desire,  and  that  the  future  prosperity  of 
Milford  may  be  assured  by  the  sterling  virtue  of  the  people. 

My  first  recollections  of  Milford  were  when  riding  into  the  town 
from  the  north  with  my  father  on  a  load  of  goods,  at  the  age  of  seven 
years.  The  first  thing  that  took  my  attention  was  the  red  painted  roofs 
of  some  of  the  buildings.    I  had  never  seen  a  painted  roof  before. 

I  think  it  was  the  spring  of  1823  that  my  father  bought  a  farm  of 
Michael  Hartshorn,  situated  in  the  western  part  of  the  town,  between 
the  farms  of  B.  Shedd  and  E.  Smith,  and  moved  there  from  New  Bos- 
ton. It  was  called  the  Melser  place ;  probably  Mr.  Melser  cut  it  out 
from  the  primitive  forest.     At  present  it  is  owned  by  Mr.  E.  S.  Burns. 

Yon  have  a  good  motto,  "Equal  and  exact  justice  to  all."  But  do 
you  dispense  equal  justice  to  all  ?  Do  the  women  share  equally  in  the 
government?  All  governments  should  be  instituted  by  the  consent  of 
the  governed,  but  they  are  not.  Women  are  governed  by  laws  that  men 
have  made,  and  are  not  permitted  to  have  a  voice  in  making  the  laws  of 
the  State.  Thas  is  a  great  injustice.  I  am  really  under  no  obligations 
to  obey  any  human  laws,  to  which  I  have  never  given  my  consent.  But, 
thank  heaven,  there  is  one  path  of  freedom  open  to  all,  through  the 
press.  Woman  can  speak  her  mind  there  as  freely  as  man,  and  I  rejoice 
to  know  that  many  have  availed  themselves  of  this  liberty.  Miss  Wil- 
lard  says  that  when  she  speaks  on  the  platform  she  can  reach  thousands, 
but  when  she  speaks  through  the  press  she  can  reach  millions.  Let  us 
ever  maintain  a  free  press.  With  the  public  schools  and  free  expression 
of  thought  we  can  defy  all  the  powers  of  tyranny  and  oppression. 

CLEMENTINE  AVERILL. 


Chicago,  Jime  22, 1894. 

To  G.  A.  Worcester  and  E.  C.  Hutchinson,  Committee  of  Invitations: 

G£KTL£MKn: — Your  letter  of  invitation  to  me  from  the  Town  of 
Milford,  for  my  presence  the  26th  of  June  next,  upon  the  occasion  of  the 
celebrarion  of  the  One  Hundredth  Anniversary  of  its  Incorporation, 
June  26,  1894,  is  received.  Please  give  my  thanks  to  the  Town  of  Mil- 
ford for  the  kind  invitation  to  be  present  at  the  celebration.  It  would 
give  me  gfreat  pleasure  and  enjoyment  to  be  there  to  see  the  beautiful 
Town  of  Milford  and  its  people,  where  I  was  born  and  lived  thirty-three 
years.  Although  it  would  be  very  sad  to  me,  after  nearly  forty  years 
since  I  left  the  town,  to  see  the  g^eat  changes  that  have  taken  place,  and 
death's  great  harvest  among  my  dear  relatives  and  my  good  old  neigh- 
bors; not  on«  left,  all  gone  and  joined  the  great  majority.  I  always 
liked  Milford.  It  is  a  smart  progr&ssive  goa-head  town.  Its  citizens 
have  always  stood  in  the  front  rank  in  advocating  good  morals,  jwtriot- 
ism,  human  liberty,  free  speech,  religious  liberty,  temperanca,  music  and 
the  arts.  Also,  industry,  public  improvements  and  advancement  upon 
all  lines,  for  the  benefit  and  happiness  of  the  people,  hospitable  to  all 


MILFORD  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION.  89 

that  come  within  her  gates.    In  short,  Milford  has  some  of  the  spirit  of 
Chicago's  push,  and  get  there. 

I  send  my  regrets  that  it  will  be  impossible  for  me  to  be  present  at 
the  celebration;  nevertheless,  my  heart  and  soul  will  be  with  you  just 
the  same.  My  wish  is  that  the  citizens  of  Milford  may  realize  all  of 
their  expectations  and  happiness  in  the  celebration,  on  the  26th  of  June 
next,  and  hope  the  next  one  hundred  years  will  bring  forth  great  advance- 
ment in  knowledge,  improvements  and  prosperity  to  the  Town  of  Mil- 
ford, and  may  God  bless  all  the  mothers  and  daughters,  is  the  wish  of 
your  humblo  servant.  Yours  truly, 

GEORGE  HOLT. 


Amherst,  July  2d,  1894. 
Mr.  Worcester: 

Dear  Sir:  —  In  behalf  of  the  delegates  from  Amherst,  I  wish  to 
express  our  thanks  for  the  cordial  invitation  to  visit  you,  and  the  very 
pleasant  manner  in  which  we  were  entertained  on  the  26th. 

With  the  best  wishes  for  the  progressive  Town  of  Milford, 

Respct'y  yours, 

JAMES  F.  WESTON, 
Chairman  Board  of  Selectmen. 


ADVERTISEHENTS. 


HISTORY 


OF>     THl 


Townofflilford, 

NEW  HAHPSHIRE, 

From   its   earliest  settlement,  with  a  genealogical 
record   of   Hilford    families,    by 

O-eorgre  -^^-  IS^m-sd.ell. 


PUBLISHED  BY  THE  TOWN  COMMITTEE. 

TOWW  COf\f\lTTREi G.  A.  Worcester,    Chairman,    J.  E.  Foster,    Secre- 
tary, W.  H.  W.  Hinds,  Treasurer,  W.  P.  Colburn.  J.  W.  Crosby. 


fHE  committee  would  announce  that  the  forthcoming  his- 
tory of  the  town  is  now  well  under  way  and  will  ap- 
pear at  the  earliest  date  consistent  with  its  careful  prep- 
aration. The  volume  will  be  of  the  usual  octavo  size  and 
contain  not  less  than  eight  hundred  pages,  printed  on  extra 
heavy  rag  paper,  made  in  Henniker  especially  for  this  work. 
The  presswork  and  binding  will  be  by  the  Republican  Press 
Association,  of  Concord,  N.  H.,  and  will  .recommend  itself. 
The  work  will  be  embellished  with  two  maps,  thirty -six  or 
more  steel  plate  portraits  of  persons  prominently  connected 
with  the  town,  land  many  views  of  public  and  private 
buildings,  residences,  etc. 

The  edition  is  limited  to  seven  hundred  copies,  and  the 
committee  guarantee  copies  only  to  advance  subscribers.  The 
price  has  been  fixed  at  $3.00  (three  dollars)  per  copy,  bound 
in  the  best  cloth,  or  $4.00  (four  dollars)  bound  in  half  leather. 
Special  bindings  will  be  provided  at  special  prices.  Any  in- 
formation desired  will   be  furnished  by  the  committee. 

W.  P.  Colburn  has  the  especial  charge  of  the  genealog- 
ical matter,  J.  E.  Foster  the  subscriptions  and  religious  soci- 
eties, G.  A.  Worcester  the  illustrations,  J.  W.  Crosby  milli. 
tary  matters,  W.   H.  W.  Hinds  physicians  and  secret  societies. 


D.  L.  DziT)\e\s, 


TW^KNUPKCTURBR    OP 


JHonamental  and  Cemetery  Work 

OF  EVERY  DESCRIPTION. 


Granite  and  Marble  of  the  finest  quality  used  in  the 

production  ol  my  work,  in  large  variety, 

including. 

Monuments,  Headstones,  Markers,  Tab* 
lets,  Posts  and  Curbing. 

THE    CEIiEBRATED^..i«MHi^H|^ 

Milford  Granite  used  especially  for  Monuments. 


I  employ  none  but  the  most  reliable  and  skilled  work- 
men.  Should  be  pleased  to  give  you  reference  from  former 
patrons.      Correspondence  solicited. 

Salesroom,  South  St.,  neai*  Baptist  Chureh, 
JVllLKORD,  N.  M, 


Wm.  H.  Young.  J.  T.  Young. 


Young  &  Son, 


sole:  l^RODTJCERS  OF 


Blue  New  Westerly  Granite, 


The  Strongest  Granite  Worked. 


Ouairies  and  Works,  ,        Office  and  Show  Yard, 

nUford,  on  the  5ouhegan,    V    Cor.  3rd  and  Liberty  Sts., 
New  Hampshire.  '  Troy,  N.  Y. 


Crushing  Tests 


Made  by  Prof.  Ricketts  of  The  Rensse- 
laer Polytechnic  Institute:  ''24,950 
lbs.  to  the  cubic  inch :  tested  one  cube 
1  1-2  inches,  unable  to  crush  it,  capac- 
ity of  machine  50,000  lbs."  Bane, 
Quincy  and  Westerly  granite  crush  be- 
tween 17,000  lbs.  and  18,000  lbs.  to 
the  cubic  inch. 


The  Milford  4- 
-4  Granite  Co. 

» 

INCORPORATED,     JwIAY     1S84. 
MANUFACTURBKS    OF 

Artistic  Monuments 

AND  THE  HIGHEST  GKADE  OF 

Monumental  Granite  Work. 


Phenomenal 

Success. 


The  beauty  of  the  Milford  Gran- 
ite and  our  very  high  class  of  work 
is  attracting  the  attention  of  every 
one  interested  in  fine  monumental 
work. 


Low  Prices  and  the 
Finest  Workmanship. 


Send  to  us  for  estimates  and  we 
will  surprise  you  with  low  figures 
consistent  with  the  quality  of 
Granite  and  Workmanship. 


The  IWilfoFd  Granite  Co., 


^v^ir-iF^oisE),  3sr.  s:. 


sauaafflJI I 


UNIYERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 

Los  Angeles 
This  book  is  DUE  on  the  last  date  stamped  bdow. 


Form  L9-60m-4,'61(B8994(i4)444 


^  I 

44      MilfnrH   N.H.  -  ■  I 

M59M5  Celebration  of  •  ^ 

the  one '     A  001337  499 

hundredth  anniversary 
of  the  incorporation  of 
Milford  '    I 


F 
44 

M59M5 


